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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Advances $6 Million In New Funding To Support Rural Businesses Through Senate Appropriations Committee
(FRIDAY, May 25, 2018) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Thursday announced the Committee approved a $6 million increase for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, for a total of $40 million. The legislation now heads to consideration before the full Senate. Leahy said: "In Vermont, rural businesses are the center of our communities. Supporting these businesses means supporting Vermont's rural economy, and I'm proud the Committee… Continue Reading
05.25.18
Senators Leahy And Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Broadband To Rural Americans
(FRIDAY, May 25, 2018) -- U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Steve Daines (R- Mont.) have introduced the bipartisan Reprioritizing Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband (RURAL Broadband) Act of 2018, which will prioritize federal funds that are used to provide broadband access to areas that are unserved with no access, before they are used to upgrade areas with existing service. Their bill is a significant step toward prioritizing unserved rural areas in Vermont and other states.… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Leahy And Nelson Introduce The Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act
(THURSDAY, May 24, 2018) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) on Thursday introduced the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act (S. 2974), a bill to modernize crime gun tracing capabilities. Under current law, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is barred from electronically searching gun records, and must comb through hundreds of millions of records manually, delaying criminal investigations around the country that depend on ATF to trace guns… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Blumenthal & Leahy Call On DOJ To Cancel Meeting To Disclose Sensitive, Classified Information To House Republicans
Today U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to cancel a meeting scheduled to take place tomorrow between the Department of Justice and exclusively Republican Members of Congress to discuss highly sensitive, classified information relating to counterintelligence efforts surrounding Russian meddling in our election. "We write to express our alarm about the Justice Department's r… Continue Reading
05.23.18
NEWS Vermont Dairy Farmers Can Use
New info on the improved Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy farmers and the SIGNUP DEADLINE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 1: USDA now says they will begin ON JUNE 1 issuing checks to producers who signed up early for the February and March margins, as an incentive for enrolling before the June 1 deadline and to offer immediate help to dairy farmers struggling with low milk prices. Leahy, who authored the MPP improvements and steered them into law as part of the Appropriations/budget agreement in Febr… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $2.5 Million in Public Housing Grants
Vermont's congressional delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) - Wednesday announced the allocation of more than $2.5 million in federal grants to six Vermont housing authorities to preserve, improve and develop public housing across Vermont. The grants were awarded under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Capital Fund Program. In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: "At a time when wages have been stagnant f… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Leahy Leads Appropriations Dems In Calling On President Trump To Not Claw Back Vital Funds To Combat Ebola And Other Infectious Diseases
In a letter led by Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), committee Democrats are urging President Trump to not claw back vital funding intended to combat the Ebola virus and other deadly infectious diseases around the world. Millions of Americans are traveling, studying, and working overseas. And outbreaks of dangerous diseases are only one airplane flight away from reaching the United States and other nations. In early May, President Trump asked Congress to r… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Vice Chairman Leahy Statement On The Hearing With Secretary Mnuchin To Review The FY 19 Funding Request For The U.S. Department Of The Treasury
A few months ago, Republicans rammed a hastily written corporate tax giveaway through Congress. There's no question that corporate CEOs are happy with the results. Stock buybacks are booming and JPMorgan Chase has estimated that it could reach an all-time high this year. But when I talk to Vermonters back home, they want to know why Washington chose to put the needs of large corporations ahead of theirs. Whether it is the relative pittance working families received in relief - an amount so l… Continue Reading
05.21.18
Leahy REAX On Today’s SCOTUS Decision Concerning The Federal Arbitration Act
Unfortunately, this Supreme Court decision will serve to hide corporate wrongdoing and deprive employees who have suffered at the hands of their employers their fair day in court. I agree with Justice Ginsburg's dissent that protecting employers from class action suits from mistreated employees is "egregiously wrong." Preventing employees from banding together may serve large corporations, but it does not serve those who face injustice. It stacks the deck against everyday Americans. In the e… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Important June 1 Deadline Nears for Dairy Farmers
Vermont dairy farmers are strongly encouraged to push the pencil and closely look at the Milk Margin Protection Program by June 1. The USDA program received upgrades in 2018 thanks to diligent work by Senator Patrick Leahy. "The improved Margin Protection Program could be a significant net financial benefit for most Vermont dairy farmers this year, especially with the important added funds from the State of Vermont, but ONLY if farmers sign up," Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said. "Now is the… Continue Reading
05.17.18
Senator Patrick Leahy Announces He Will Vote No On The Haspel/CIA Nomination
The Senate has often been called the world's greatest deliberative body - where we can thoroughly and respectfully debate weighty matters regardless of pressures imposed by any given moment. While we do not always live up to this ideal, it is one for which we should always strive. The Constitution entrusts us with the task of serving as a check against the Executive Branch, providing our advice and - if appropriate - our consent to the Executive's nominees to lead our government's most critical… Continue Reading
05.17.18
Leahy Comment On The FDA's Naming Of Drug Firms That Are Blocking Competition That Would Lead To Lower-Cost Generic Prescription Drugs
"More transparency, by FDA and others, is helpful to spotlight the abusive and anti-competitive tactics that we know some brand name drug companies use to block competition. Understanding the problem is the first step, but acting on it is the vital next step. With billions of dollars at stake, a database alone will not stop this behavior. Nor can years of litigation through antitrust suits. The good news is that Congress has a bipartisan and carefully crafted solution, ready to go, to end th… Continue Reading
05.16.18
Leahy Statement On Consideration Of S.J.Res. 52 To Restore Net Neutrality
Millions of Americans were outraged last year when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal the strong and enforceable net neutrality rules that were adopted in 2015. As a supporter of a free and open internet, I share the public's outrage over the loss of these critical protections, which is why I am voting in favor of this resolution to restore the previous rules. By repealing net neutrality rules, the FCC and its supporters in Congress have achieved little more than to pl… Continue Reading
05.16.18
Leahy Statement On FY 19 Funding Request Hearing With EPA Administrator Pruitt
Thank you Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall. This is an important hearing to review the budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency. With this reckless and unrealistic budget, the Trump administration continues to show its clear contempt for bedrock environmental safeguards and for the work of the EPA to monitor, protect, and conserve our environment and the health of all Americans. Attacks on the core mission and role of the EPA are attacks on human health. The work of … Continue Reading
05.15.18
Leahy Floor Statement On President Trump's Rescission Proposal
Mr. President, three months ago, Republicans and Democrats came together and reached a bipartisan budget agreement. We reached an agreement to lift the budget caps, provide relief from sequestration and make responsible, new investments in the American people over the next two years. The President signed this agreement into law. Now the President proposed and House Republicans have drawn up a proposal to claw back vital funding for children's health care, rural communities, infrastructure pr… Continue Reading
05.14.18
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The Violence In Gaza
"The deadly violence in Gaza is the predictable result of multiple factors from both sides, and made worse by a White House that has destroyed hope of the U.S. acting as an honest broker for peace for the foreseeable future. "The vast majority of inhabitants of Gaza are victims, abused by Hamas and confined by Israel, living in miserable conditions that breed resentment and hopelessness. "There is little doubt that the leaders of Hamas have shamelessly encouraged the protesters, many of th… Continue Reading
05.11.18
BREAKING: REAX From Appropriations Vice Chair Patrick Leahy To The President’s Drug Pricing Announcement
"The President has made some bold promises about reducing the price of prescription drugs, but unfortunately we've seen little in the way of action. Today's announcement was more of the same - a flurry of soothing words and wheel spinning, and no willingness or courage to take on price gouging and anti-competitive behavior by the giant drug firms. Incredibly, he again passed up the opportunity to support our bipartisan CREATES Act, which truly would cut prescription drug costs. The Congressio… Continue Reading
05.11.18
The International Commission Against Impunity In Guatemala Deserves Strong Support
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt. and Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee), responding to questions about U.S. funding for the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG): "Anyone who believes in justice supports CICIG." "CICIG is an absolutely essential institution that has shown itself to be able to crack through the layers of corruption in the Guatemalan justice system." "Velasquez is a person of great integrity, a very reputable, accomplished jurist. The … Continue Reading
05.11.18
Leahy Joins Hatch And Other Senators To Introduce Major Music Reform Package
Today, US Senator Patrick Leahy joined Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and a bipartisan group of Senators including Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Kennedy (R-LA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bob Corker (R-TN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Doug Jones (D-AL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Nelson (D-FL) David Perdue (R-GA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced a major music reform package. … Continue Reading
05.10.18
Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy Statement On The FY 19 Funding Request For The U.S. Department Of The Interior
Thank you, Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall. Secretary Zinke, we expressed our concerns to you last year when the President proposed to eliminate or reduce critical programs in the FY18 budget. You reportedly said to your own staff that you were "not happy" about the budget proposed by the White House, which proposed a 12 percent overall cut to the Interior Department. Now, you are in charge and have requested a 19 percent reduction compared to the FY18 enacted level, taking an axe… Continue Reading
