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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Waiver Legislation for the Next Secretary of Defense
The Senate is faced with a clear but complicated choice: support this expedited legislation that will pave the way for the confirmation of the next nominee to be Secretary of Defense, or embroil one of the most consequential Cabinet positions - and with it the lives of thousands of men and women, as well as our national defense - in what would surely become a legal and legislative morass. The Framers of the Constitution established that the Senate should provide advice and consent in the appoin… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The DHS Proposed Rulemaking To Reform The Flawed EB-5 Program
[Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Thursday after the Department of Homeland Security released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that, once implemented, will make significant improvements to the EB-5 Regional Center Program. The proposal would raise the minimum investment levels for the first time since the EB-5 program was created in 1990, and it would restrict the ability of high-end real estate developers to take advantage of development incentives intended for distres… Continue Reading
01.12.17
LEAHY ANNOUNCES SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE RANKING MEMBERS
(THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the subcommittee ranking members for the 115th Congress. Leahy said: "The Appropriations Committee has a challenging year ahead. We must finish the work of the 114th Congress and pass the remaining fiscal year 2017 bills, while simultaneously preparing to address the needs of the next. Appropriations bills are where policy debates meet fiscal realities. Approp… Continue Reading
01.11.17
Leahy Joins Senator Tammy Baldwin And Others In Calling For Disclosure Of Trump Cabinet Nominees’ Golden Parachute Bonus Payouts
(WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017) -- U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin led a group of her colleagues in sending President-elect Trump a letter calling for his cabinet nominees to disclose any payments they may receive from former employers that is contingent upon accepting a job in the federal government. Senator Baldwin was joined by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in sending th… Continue Reading
01.10.17
Leahy Presses AG Nominee Not To Roll Back Key Protections For Victims Of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
(TUESDAY, Jan.10, 2017) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the lead author of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act which was enacted in 2013, challenged Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on Tuesday not to roll back the important progress made to protect all victims of domestic and sexual violence, including LGBT individuals and those living on tribal lands. During the Judiciary Committee's consideration of the Sessions nomination Tuesday, Leahy asked: "… Continue Reading
01.10.17
Floor Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Budget Resolution, S. Con. Res. 3 (To Instruct Committees To Draft Legislation To Repeal The ACA)
The 115th Congress convened just last week. I had hoped that with all the turmoil in the country that we would begin the year with a renewed sense of cooperation. But I am sorry to say, my friends in the Republican Party have chosen a different path. The very first thing on the agenda is to press forward with a sham budget. If you ask why we have a sham budget, a fake budget, an unrealistic budget-we find out that its only purpose is to set up a process to repeal the Affordable Care Act with a … Continue Reading
01.10.17
Leahy And Other Judiciary Committee Democrats Urge Panel To Prevent Politicization Of The Justice Department Under Trump
(TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 2017) -- With Senator Jeff Sessions's (R-AL) confirmation hearing underway, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have written to Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) requesting that the Committee serve as a bulwark against any politicization of the U.S. Department of Justice during the Trump administration. In their letter, the senators cite both the targeting of attorneys within the Department based on their previous advocacy and recent actions taken by the Trump … Continue Reading
01.10.17
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On Senator Dianne Feinstein Becoming Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee convenes for the first time in the 115th Congress and we mark an historic moment in the Committee's 200 year history. Last week, Senator Dianne Feinstein was named the Committee's ranking member, the first time in American history that a woman has served in this capacity. It is striking that 352 members have served on the Committee, and only six of those -- all Democrats-- have been women. Three of those six women are proudly serving on this important Com… Continue Reading
01.09.17
Jeff Sessions Was Too Extreme For Republicans In 1986. Is He Too Extreme For Republicans Now?
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet in a legendary room that has been the site of such historic events as the Watergate hearings, and Senator John Kennedy's presidential campaign announcement. This ornate room has since been named for my friend, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, and more recently senators have met in this room for the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Attorney General Eric Holder. As senators prepare to gather in the Kennedy Cau… Continue Reading
01.05.17
As New Congress Opens, Leahy Joins Klobuchar And Others To Introduce Legislation To Lower Prescription Drug Prices For Seniors
(THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017) -- At the start of the new Congress, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and others in introducing legislation to lower prescription drug prices for seniors. The lawmakers have introduced the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, which would allow Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs. Current law only allows for bargaining by pharmaceutical companies and bans Medicare from doing so. The legislation woul… Continue Reading
01.05.17
RANKING MEMBER LEAHY STATEMENT ON REPORTS THAT PEOTUS TRUMP WILL ASK CONGRESS TO PAY FOR BORDER WALL
Today, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement in response to reports that President-elect Trump will ask Congress to pay for the border wall: "A troubling pattern is quickly emerging, with the fuzzy talk about killing the Affordable Care Act, and now with 'the wall.' It's jump first, and make real plans later, if ever. That may be the way Mr. Trump ran his businesses but it's not how we should treat American … Continue Reading
01.04.17
Further Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Senator Jeff Sessions’ Nomination To Be The Attorney General Of The United States
"I have made clear the issues that especially concern me as the Senate considers Senator Sessions' nomination to be Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General serves as the chief law enforcement officer in the country. The Attorney General must be independent and fair. The Attorney General must be deeply committed to the rule of law and must ensure that all people are treated equally before the law. This means that he or she is also the chief protector of civil rights and ci… Continue Reading
01.04.17
Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Leahy, Carper, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Create Independent Nonpartisan Commission to Investigate Russian Interference in Election
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced legislation Wednesday to create an independent, nonpartisan commission to comprehensively investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election. The commission would fully investigate Russian cyberattacks on U.S. political entities and election infrastructure and any other attempts by the Russian government to influence U.S. elections, seek to identify… Continue Reading
01.04.17
Leahy Names Two Aides To Be His Staff Director, And Chief Counsel/Deputy Staff Director, On The Appropriations Committee
(WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday named two skilled and seasoned staff experts who will serve as top aides as he assumes the post of the Democratic leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy has named Charles Kieffer as the committee's minority Staff Director. Kieffer has more than 38 years of experience in the appropriations process, including 16 years of service with the Senate Appropriations Committee, 16 years with the Office of Management and Bu… Continue Reading
01.03.17
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Updated Information About Malware Reported By Burlington Electric Department
Burlington Electric should be commended for acting on the notice from federal homeland security officials, as they were asked to do. Based on the additional information that has come to light since The Washington Post's breaking news story on New Year's Eve weekend, it appears that the Vermont utility followed proper procedures in investigating the incident and reporting what they found. I am grateful that the initial news report was inaccurate and that the affected laptop of a Vermont utility… Continue Reading
12.30.16
Leahy Reaction On Russian Hacking Of A Vermont Electric Utility
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Russian Hacking Friday, December 30, 2016 State-sponsored Russian hacking is a serious threat, and the attempts to penetrate the electric grid through a Vermont utility are the latest example. My staff and I were briefed by Vermont State Police Colonel Matthew Birmingham this evening. This is beyond hackers having electronic joy rides - this is now about trying to access utilities to potentially manipulate the grid and shut it down in the middle of winter.… Continue Reading
12.24.16
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) To The United States Abstention In The UN Security Council On The Resolution On Israeli Settlements
"Ever since Oslo, Republican and Democratic administrations have opposed Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank as an obstacle to peace. That was not a throwaway line, but nevertheless, year after year the expansion of settlements into disputed territory continued and even accelerated as if the policy of the United States, and UN resolutions, didn't matter. "Throughout these years, U.S. military aid to Israel has increased, even as prospects for a two state solution, which Israeli l… Continue Reading
12.22.16
‘The Year Closes On A High Note For Vermont’s Transportation Future’ -- Leahy-Authored Bill To Facilitate Preclearance Travel Operations In Canada Is Signed Into Law
BURLINGTON (THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was joined Thursday by federal and state officials, representatives of Amtrak, Porter Airlines and local chamber of commerce officials at the Burlington International Airport to mark the enactment of the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act. The legislation, unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in the last day of this year's session, was signed into law by President Obama on December 16th. Leahy penned the … Continue Reading
12.20.16
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On POTUS Announcement Banning Drilling in Parts of Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
"The President clearly listened to the countless voices of coastal residents who oppose the unnecessary risk that drilling poses to their way of life and to the coastal economies that depend on healthy oceans and pristine beaches. I agree with the President that these risks, as well as those posed to the wildlife and marine life that call these oceans home, should not be jeopardized to enable multi-billion dollar corporations to benefit from risky offshore drilling activities. I applaud Preside… Continue Reading
12.17.16
Patrick And Marcelle Leahy Pay Respects To John Glenn At Memorial Service In Columbus
COLUMBUS (SATURDAY, Dec. 17, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and his wife Marcelle Leahy on Saturday attended the memorial service here for the late former Senator John Glenn (D-Ohio). The Leahys and Glenns enjoyed an especially close bond of friendship in the United States Senate. The Leahys traveled to Columbus with Vice President Biden and Jill Biden, aboard the Vice President's plane. "We met when John and I came to the Senate. Our friendship crystalized in an instant, and it blos… Continue Reading
