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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Klobuchar Leads Letter Opposing Administration Actions to Restrict Educational and Cultural Travel to Cuba
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a letter today strongly opposing the Trump Administration's decision to eliminate group "people-to-people" educational travel to Cuba, including a ban to prohibit cruise ships from stopping there. Organized groups on cruise ships are the most common way U.S. citizens travel to the island. In the letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the senators reiterated that isolating Cuba has only disadvantaged American and Cuban… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Leahy Joins Gillibrand And Others To Reintroduce Military Justice Improvement Act
After Recent DoD Report Highlights Pentagon's Continued Failure To Adequately Address Military Sexual Assault, Leahy Joins Gillibrand And Others To Reintroduce Military Justice Improvement Act … Bipartisan bill would create impartial, fair and accountable military justice system (June 13, 2019) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, Thursday led a bipartisan group of senators, including Senator Patrick Leahy (… Continue Reading
06.12.19
Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Floor Statement On A Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Bill
Next week, the Senate Appropriations Committee will markup a supplemental appropriations bill to address the humanitarian crisis on our southern border. This does not have to be a partisan process. We have all seen news reports showing crowded conditions at Customs and Border Protection facilities at our southern border. We have seen the pictures of women and children sleeping outside, on the ground, because the facilities are full. And we have all seen the numbers of unaccompanied children … Continue Reading
06.11.19
Durbin, Leahy, Cardin, Brown, Senators Introduce Resolution Expressing Support For Free, Fair, Transparent Elections In Guatemala
Durbin, Leahy, Cardin, Brown, Senators Introduce Resolution Expressing Support For Free, Fair, Transparent Elections In Guatemala WASHINGTON (June 11, 2019) - Ahead of Guatemala's elections on Sunday, June 16, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today introduced a resolution expressing support for free, fair, and transparent elections in Guatemala. The resolution also e… Continue Reading
06.06.19
Reaction To President Trump Signing The Disaster Supplemental
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) REAX To President Trump Signing The Disaster Supplemental THURSDAY, May 6, 2019 Since the House first passed a disaster package back in January, Senate Republicans needlessly delayed its progress at the direction of President Trump. It was in response to the President's direction to not provide a dollar of additional aid to Puerto Rico that Republicans delayed the disaster relief for over four months. Democrats have said from … Continue Reading
06.05.19
Address On Cuba Travel Restrictions On Americans
Address Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Cuba Travel Restrictions On Americans Senate Floor June 5, 2019 Mr. President, I have seen some dumb policies by Administrations over the years, when both Republicans and Democrats have occupied the White House. I want to speak briefly about one of them. Because it is not just dumb. It is an embarrassment. And it is going to hurt a lot of Americans, and it is going to hurt a lot of good people in Cuba. There is absolutely no denying that. I refer to the de… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Menendez, Graham, Murphy, Paul, Leahy, Young, Reed Announce 22 Joint Resolutions to Block Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE without Congressional Approval
(June 5, 2019) - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) today announced they are introducing 22 separate Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to protect and reaffirm Congress' role of approving arms sales to foreign governments. Today's introductions come after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared an emergency on… Continue Reading
05.30.19
Comment Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy On The Passing Of Senator Thad Cochran
Thad Cochran was a devoted public servant, a lion of the Senate, and one of my dearest friends. Despite our political differences, I knew Thad held the interests of the people of Mississippi - and the country - close to his heart. We were close partners through the years on the Agriculture Committee, which we both chaired. Our friendship was a driving force behind our work as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, forging bipartisan agreement in an increasingly partisan Con… Continue Reading
05.28.19
Comment On The Election Of Lonnie G. Bunch III To Become The Next Secretary Of The Smithsonian Institution
Comment Of Smithsonian Regent Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Election Of Lonnie G. Bunch III To Become The Next Secretary Of The Smithsonian Institution May 28, 2019 At a meeting this morning of the Smithsonian Regents, chaired by Chief Justice Roberts, I was proud to vote in favor of Lonnie Bunch's candidacy to become our next Secretary of the venerated Smithsonian Institution. His election is not only a superb choice, recognizing his proven achievements, but also acknowledges the historic natu… Continue Reading
05.24.19
President Signs Permanent Renewal Of Leahy-Led Bulletproof Vests Program For Police
President Signs Permanent Renewal Of Leahy-Led Bulletproof Vests Program For Police . . . law also names the program after Leahy, its longtime champion WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, May 24, 2019) - The White House announced that President Trump Friday signed into law legislation authored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that permanently reauthorizes the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. Under an amendment offered in the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Senate bill's lead cosponsor… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Statement On Alberto Curamil
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Alberto Curamil Congressional Record May 23, 2019 Mr. LEAHY. I want to bring to the Senate's attention the story, and the example, of Alberto Curamil, an environmental activist who is a member of the indigenous Mapuche people in Chile's Araucania region. The Mapuche are Chile's largest indigenous group, and since the 1800s they have struggled to protect their culture, territory, rivers, forests, and natural resources against encroachment and destruction by… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Statement Of Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Bipartisan, Bicameral Disaster Supplemental
Even though it may be five months late, today is a good day for the United States Congress, for the American people, and for the nation. I have said from the beginning that any disaster supplemental that passes this chamber cannot pick and choose which American citizens to help in their time of need. The American community bands together to support one another when disaster strikes, regardless of where we are from, our politics, or our beliefs. That is the American way, and it is the role of … Continue Reading
05.23.19
Senate Passes Bicameral, Bipartisan Disaster Supplemental
(THURSDAY, May 23, 2019) - The United States Senate Thursday passed a $19.1 billion bipartisan, bicameral disaster supplemental to provide aid for all American citizens recovering from 2017-2019 disasters by a vote of 85 to 8. The House first passed an emergency supplemental in January, only for the measure to stall in the Senate due to President Trump's insistence that it not include "one more dime" of funding for the American citizens of Puerto Rico recovering from two category 5 hurricanes. … Continue Reading
05.16.19
Address On Passage Of The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Of 2019
Address of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Passage of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization of 2019< Senate Floor May 16, 2019 Moments ago the Senate passed legislation to permanently reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant program. This is the sixth time I have worked to reauthorize this lifesaving program since Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and I authored legislation establishing it more than 20 years ago. My role in authoring this progra… Continue Reading
05.15.19
Statement On Alfred Brownell
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Alfred Brownell Congressional Record May 14, 2019 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly about the courageous environmental activism of Alfred Brownell, a native of Liberia now living in exile in Boston. Mr. Brownell is an environmental and human rights lawyer and the executive director of Green Advocates, a Liberian organization that he founded to promote environmental justice for indigenous communities.Like so many environmental activists ar… Continue Reading
05.14.19
Senate Tonite Passes Permanent Renewal Of Leahy-Led Bulletproof Vests Pgm For Police; Senate Also Names Pgm For Leahy, Its Longtime Champion
(TUESDAY, May 14, 2019) -The Senate Tuesday evening unanimously passed Senator Patrick Leahy's legislation to permanently reauthorize and increase support for the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant program. The bill, S.1231, cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and 18 other bipartisan cosponsors, also increases funding for the program by $5 million to $30 million each year. The House of Representatives is expected to pass identical legislation sho… Continue Reading
05.14.19
As President Trump Doubles Down On Failed Immigration Policies, Senate Democrats Reintroduce The Central America Reform And Enforcement Act – A Set of Serious, Legitimate Solutions To Address The Root Causes Of The Central American Migrant Crisis
Senate Democrats today announced the reintroduction of a major legislative proposal to address the root causes of the Central American migrant crisis. The proposal, which was introduced by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Se… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Leahy Joins Markey And Others In Introducing Legislation To Preserve And Extend New START Treaty, Prohibit Increases In U.S. Nuclear Arms Forces
(THURSDAY, May 2, 2019) - In an effort to preserve the last, major U.S.-Russia bilateral nuclear arms control treaty, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced new legislation to preserve the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the only, remaining arms control treaty capping Russia's most dangerous nuclear weapons. Senator Markey's Save Arms Control and Verification Efforts (SAVE) Act calls for the United States to extend New START and would specifically prohibit any fundi… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Vice Chairman Leahy Statement on Hearing to Review FY 2020 DHS Budget Request
All reasonable observers would agree that our southern border is experiencing a humanitarian crisis that deserves our attention. We are seeing a large number of asylum seekers and migrants - mostly families and unaccompanied children fleeing for their lives - arriving at our border, creating significant strains on our ability to treat all of them humanely and with due process. But a serious crisis demands serious solutions. Acting Secretary McAleenan: I genuinely believe you are here in good fa… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Leahy And Graham Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Reauthorize Lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Grant Program
. . . Counterpart House Bill Introduced By Pascrell And King WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, April 30, 2019) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and 14 other bipartisan Senate cosponsors, on Tuesday introduced legislation, S. 1231, to permanently reauthorize the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, a federal grant program that helps state and local law enforcement agencies purchase lifesavi… Continue Reading
