Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Statement On Proposed FY 2017 Cuts
[BACKGROUND: Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt. ) Tuesday issued the following statement after reports surfaced of a document from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had been released detailing cuts proposed by the Trump Administration for FY 2017. This document was not shared directly to Leahy's office or the offices of other Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee by OMB.] Unfortunately, this appears to be more of the same partisan campaign g… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Vice Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee, On President Trump’s Executive Order Rolling Back Obama-Era Clean Air, Clean Water And Clean Energy Gains
These cynical and patently misleading actions are damaging in many ways to our economy and to the public's health. This is part of the 'know-nothing' anti-science agenda that President Trump and many Republicans in Congress continue to pursue, undermining sound policy decisions and setting back America's technological leadership and American jobs in the emerging clean energy economy. This will cost us precious time and initiative in establishing our world lead in these new clean energy technol… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Stowe Elementary School
On March 28, 2017, Senator Leahy had his annual online chat with the student council of Stowe Elementary School. Senator Leahy enjoyed answering the 5th and 6th graders questions about his thoughts on the Trump's administration's policies, from climate change to healthcare. The Senator was impressed by the Stowe students' thoughtful questions on highly relevant political issues.… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Leahy And Other Democratic Senators Call On USA Hockey To Treat Women's National Hockey Team Fairly
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and a group of other Democratic senators are raising several concerns about the inequitable treatment of U.S. Women's National Hockey Team players. Their letter is addressed to the Executive Director of USA Hockey Dave Ogrean. In addition to Leahy, the letter is signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Th… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Leahy And Community Leaders Gather In Vermont To Defend Safety Nets Eliminated Under Trump Budget Proposal
Senator Patrick Leahy Monday joined community leaders at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity Weatherization Warehouse to assert strong opposition to the Trump Administration's draconian budget proposal, which would dismantle essential safety nets for the most vulnerable Vermonters. Leahy said: "This proposal is appallingly unbalanced. It is out of touch, and it is shortsighted. We have made progress in recent years in helping Vermont families that are struggling. Our poverty… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Remarks of Senator Patrick Leahy Press Conference on President Trump’s Call to Eliminate America’s Social Safety Net
Thank you Jan for that kind introduction, and for having us here today. Over the years, I have heard from many Vermonters whose lives have been made stronger by the dedicated teams at CVOEO and our other 4 community action agencies. Their staffs have long been committed to offering program participants a solid foundation for family success. While the economy does continue to improve, this is not the case for many families. With the ever increasing food, transportation and housing costs, I do… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Senator Leahy’s Written Follow-Up Questions To Supreme Court Nominee Judge Gorsuch
Senator Leahy's written follow-up questions for the record for Judge Gorsuch can be found here.… Continue Reading
03.24.17
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To Withdrawal Of The Trumpcare Bill From The House Floor
"There are many clear and compelling lessons to be drawn from the ashes of this sad and botched episode. I hope Republican leaders will set aside the Hastert Rule - under which all legislation is only passed with Republican votes - and actually let all of the people's elected representatives take part in forging actual solutions for improving health care and the ability of all Americans to have solid, practical, good-quality and affordable health insurance. "A decade ago, before the Affordable… Continue Reading
03.24.17
Sec. Mattis: Soft Power Is A “Fundamental” Power
Contradicting the Trump Administration's budget priorities, Defense Secretary James Mattis Wednesday testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that "soft power" is fundamental to national security. Mattis said: "America's got two fundamental powers: the power of intimidation and the power of inspiration. Soft power is largely found in the power of inspiration. And it's part and parcel of how we defeat this enemy (ISIS)." Mattis' testimony seems to contradict the bud… Continue Reading
03.23.17
Citing Mounting Evidence Of Trump-Russia Ties, Senator Leahy Renews Call For Independent Special Counsel
Senator Patrick Leahy reiterated his call on Thursday for an independent investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Leahy's latest call came during a week in which the FBI director confirmed the bureau is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia since July, and new reports showed that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort earned $10 million per year for secret work on behalf of President Putin. Manafort resigned from the campaign after qu… Continue Reading
03.23.17
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy, On the Need for an Independent Investigation into Russian interference in our Elections
I have served in this body for more than 42 years. When I joined the Senate our country was still crawling out of an intractable war. I have since seen our country slide into new wars. I have seen scandals that have consumed this town and our Nation. And I have seen horrific terrorist attacks that have shaken our country to its core. All of these events, in different ways, have tested our country. But I have never seen a threat to our democratic institutions like I see today. There is s… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Statement On The Defense Appropriations Sub Committee Hearing: “A Review Of The Budget And Readiness Of The Department Of Defense”
Thank you, Chairman Cochran and Ranking Member Durbin, for holding this important hearing to review the budget and readiness of the Department of Defense. The 2017 supplemental that President Trump has proposed for the Department of Defense would exceed the spending caps for defense set in the Budget Control Act, triggering sequestration and across-the-board cuts for the Department of Defense, in just 10 weeks, if the law is not changed. I believe all Members of this Subcommittee should work c… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Senator Patrick Leahy On The Election in Ecuador
Mr. President, Article 2 of Chapter I of the Charter of the Organization of American States, of which Ecuador is a party, states that one of the OAS's purposes is "to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention." I mention this because the second round of Ecuador's presidential election is scheduled for April 2, less than two weeks away. In the first round, Lenin Moreno, who is supported by outgoing President Correa, received 39 perc… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Rule of Law in Guatemala
Mr. President, I want to call the Senate's attention to the current situation in Guatemala, where upholding the rule of law has too often been the exception rather than the rule. For centuries, most Guatemalans had no access to justice. This was exacerbated during - and in the years since - the civil war, when an estimated 200,000 people were killed or disappeared. Most of them were innocent victims of the armed forces, and only a small number of the military officers and their accomplices w… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Statement Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy On President Trump’s “Skinny Budget” Proposal
Last Thursday the Trump Administration submitted his first "Budget Blueprint" to Congress. He called it "America First, A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again." This title would be laughable if the topic were not so serious. Like some of the President's tweets, his budget is a hasty list of appallingly unbalanced, shortsighted, politically driven priorities. He proposes to eliminate or drastically cut programs that benefit the middle class and safeguard our most vulnerable citizens, … Continue Reading
03.21.17
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy, On United States Sentencing Commission Nominations
Today the Senate will vote on two nominees to the United States Sentencing Commission who should have been confirmed last year. Judge Danny Reeves was nominated more than one year ago and he was unanimously reported by the Judiciary Committee, yet Senate Republicans refused to approve him before the end of last year. Judge Charles Breyer was nominated last September for a reappointment, and despite overwhelming support Republicans blocked him as well. These are not controversial nominees and … Continue Reading
03.21.17
Leahy: Revision Military Wins $98 Million Contract For Advance Combat Helmet Generation II
In a development with direct implications for future work at Revision Military Newport, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced that the U.S. Army awarded Revision Military a contract for as much as $98 million to produce the next generation of combat helmets for soldiers. The announcement follows an intense competition for the project. Leahy is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees the Senate's work in writing annual defense budget bills. He has bee… Continue Reading
03.20.17
Joint Statement Of The Vermont Congressional Delegation On ICE Enforcement Actions In Vermont
"We have expressed our serious concerns to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about these arrests of several farmworkers and farmworker advocates. We are also reaching out to ICE about the potential impact in Vermont of President Trump's executive order calling for increased immigration enforcement. Instead of focusing on removing those people who pose a threat to public safety or national security, the Trump Administration is targeting all undocumented persons, including the people tha… Continue Reading
03.20.17
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Nomination Of Neil Gorsuch To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court
Today marks the first time that the Senate Judiciary Committee has met publicly to take action on the Supreme Court vacancy that resulted from Justice Scalia's death 13 months ago. Just hours after we learned of Justice Scalia's sudden passing, the Majority Leader declared that the Senate would not provide any process to any nominee selected by President Obama, despite the President having nearly a year left in his term. This was an extraordinary blockade, and one backed by then-candidate Dona… Continue Reading
03.16.17
Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On President Trump’s “Skinny Budget” Proposal
The Trump budget shows as much foresight as TrumpCare. Like some of the President's tweets, the Trump budget is a hasty list of appallingly unbalanced, shortsighted, politically driven priorities. We cannot make America "Great Again" at the expense of middle class families and the most vulnerable among us, and you do not make America "stronger" by eliminating the very programs that make our nation more secure. The President's proposal would abandon months of bipartisan negotiations, and break… Continue Reading
