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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 On The Trump Administration's Strike On Syria
"The use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity that calls for an appropriate response. But it is Congress' responsibility to declare war. Threatening the use of military force by tweet, and firing off missiles without a coherent policy or clear legal authority, raises obvious dangers and constitutional concerns and risks drawing us into a wider war. The President needs to be crystal clear with the American people and with the Congress about what our goals are in Syria and how he inte… Continue Reading
04.12.18
Guns, Commonsense, And Vermont's Example
I am a proud Vermonter. My family has lived there for over 150 years. Yesterday, Vermont set an example for the Congress, and for the Nation. A Democratically controlled legislature and a Republican Governor, in a rural State with a strong gun-owning tradition and very few gun laws, worked together to debate, forge, and enact meaningful, commonsense gun safety laws. Yesterday, Governor Phil Scott, who is a Republican, signed three bills into law. They expand background checks, require tho… Continue Reading
04.06.18
Grassley, Goodlatte, Leahy Urge Trump Administration to Finalize EB-5 Regulatory Reforms
In a joint letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Senate and House Judiciary Committee chairmen Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and former Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) urged the swift implementation of regulations that would drastically curtail the amount of fraud and abuse that has become common in the EB-5 regional center program. "As we have noted several times since the publication of these proposed regulations, they would, if finalized,… Continue Reading
04.03.18
Leahy: USDA Reopens Enrollment For Much-Improved Dairy Safety Net Under Recently Enacted Leahy Reforms
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be reopening the enrollment next week for the much-improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). The changes implement improvements that Leahy included in the Bipartisan Budget Act in February to give Vermont dairy farmers a far more cost-effective risk protection option. Reopening enrollment is especially important now as dairy farmers are experiencing a difficult year with falling … Continue Reading
03.29.18
Leahy And Other Appropriations Leaders Meet With NATO Officials On National Security Threats
Senator Patrick Leahy and other members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees will meet today and Friday with NATO officials, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, about national security issues facing the United States and its NATO allies. The meetings come as the United States and the NATO allies are acting to counter a variety of security threats, especially from Russia, which include interference in elections, the conflict in Syria, cyber warfare, and the attempted murder on English… Continue Reading
03.24.18
A Tribute To Vermont's Students In The March For Our Lives In Montpelier And Washington
A Tribute To Vermont's Students In The March For Our Lives In Montpelier And Washington Marcelle and I, and Vermonters across our state, are so proud of you. We admire your energy, your clarity, and your personal investment of time and action. I can tell you this: America not only is seeing and hearing you; America is LISTENING to you. You're already making a difference in Vermont and in other states. On Friday, the Vermont House acted on landmark gun safety legislation, after hearing Vermont… Continue Reading
03.23.18
Vice Chairman Leahy REAX On The President’s Veto Threat For the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Comment Of Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The President's Veto Threat For the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Which Cleared Congress Early This Morning "Now the President threatens to abandon $700 billion for the troops, and health care for 7 million veterans, for his misbegotten border wall that he said Mexico would pay for. That is NOT Making America Great Again. "I have this message for President Trump: Mr. President, you terminated protections for DACA recipients… Continue Reading
03.23.18
Leahy REAX On The Passage Of The Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
[Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy early Friday morning released the following statement on passage of the fiscal year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 65 to 32. Leahy earlier released a summary of the bill and paid tribute to Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) who is retiring in April. Leahy's full statement on the bill from the Senate Floor Thursday afternoon can be found here.] By lifting the spending caps set in place by the Budget Control Act, we have been ab… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Statement On The Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act
After months of intense negotiations, tough choices, and good-faith compromises, we have reached a bipartisan agreement to fund the government for this fiscal year, make renewed investments in the American people, and protect our national security. The Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill provides $1.3 trillion in discretionary spending, including $700 billion for defense programs to support our men and women in uniform, and $600 billion for non-defense programs that will help us inves… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Leahy Secures Legislation In The Omnibus Appropriations Bill To Make Taxpayer-Funded Congressional Research Reports Available To The Public
Senator Patrick Leahy secured a key transparency win in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill - which funds the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year - released Wednesday night. The final bill includes a provision he added to make all non-confidential reports prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) freely available to public schools and libraries across the country. That means they will be freely available online to individuals, schools and universities, researchers, and l… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Leahy Secures New Funding For LIHEAP In Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy announced a $250 million increase to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill released Wednesday night. The inclusion of funds not only rejects President Trump's efforts to eliminate LIHEAP, but it brings total funding for the program to $3.64 billion. Leahy said the new investment is estimated to secure $1.39 million in additional funds for Vermont, bringing the Green Mountain State's total LIHEAP funding to $20.4 million … Continue Reading
03.22.18
Leahy Secures Significant Boost For Lake Champlain Funding In Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy has announced that the final Omnibus Appropriations Bill unveiled on Wednesday night includes millions of dollars for cleanup and research of the Lake Champlain Basin. Leahy said: "Lake Champlain will always be our 'great lake.' These investments will continue and expand the work being done to ensure that Lake Champlain's resources and beauty are preserved for us and for our children and grandchildren. I am proud of the efforts that Vermonters are making for Lake Champl… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Appropriations Vice Chair Leahy Senate Floor Tribute to Senator Thad Cochran
I have often felt that Senator Thad Cochran was plucked from Central Casting to fill the role of a devoted public servant. More than most of us, he looks the part, and more than most of us, he embodies the best of what the Senate can be. Our country needs more public servants like Thad. As Congress has become more partisan in recent years, Thad has stood by his values. He brings substance, not soundbites, to the Upper Chamber, and his leadership as "The Quiet Persuader" will be sorely misse… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Leahy Leads Charge Against Opioid Epidemic In Appropriations Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy announced $3.3 billion in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill released Wednesday night to combat the opioid epidemic that has gripped Vermont and the nation. This includes: $32 million for the Leahy-authored Anti-Heroin Task Force grants, a $22 million increase compared to last year; $1 billion for a new State Opioid Response Grant program; and $130 million for a new Leahy-backed Rural Communities Opioids Response program to help rural communities at the highest risk for subst… Continue Reading
03.21.18
Leahy Notches Key Victories For Vermont In Appropriations Bill
Senate and House Appropriations Committee leaders Wednesday morning completed lengthy and intense negotiations on an appropriations bill to fund the federal government through September 30. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, played a leading role in the negotiations, on which work began last May, and secured several key victories for Vermont. This will be the first appropriations bill completed from start to finish with Leahy as the committee'… Continue Reading
03.21.18
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Releases Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday released a summary of the fiscal year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that totals $1.3 trillion in discretionary spending in compliance with the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Agreement. The bill includes $700 billion in defense funding, including $71 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding, and $600 billion in non-defense spending, including $12 billion in OCO. Leahy said: "Through hard work, long days, a… Continue Reading
03.20.18
Leahy Statement On U.S. Participation In The War In Yemen
Mr. President, it is about time we had a debate, if only for a few hours, on the participation of the U.S. military in the civil war in Yemen. Frankly, I cannot comprehend, nor am I able to explain to my Vermont constituents, the ongoing involvement of U.S. troops in support of the Saudi-led coalition as it flies U.S.-origin planes and drops U.S.-made bombs - purchased at a discount thanks to American taxpayers - amid continued reports of indiscriminate targeting and horrific civilian casualtie… Continue Reading
03.20.18
Leahy Committee Statement On The Need To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act
I would like to take a moment to recognize Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who passed away last week at the age of 88. Her colleagues in the House remember her as a trailblazer who inspired countless young women to seek their rightful place at the head of the table. She co-authored the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and she was a champion of equal rights throughout her career. So let us remember her legacy this morning, as we look at ways to further advance this important legislation. Th… Continue Reading
03.20.18
Leahy, Boozman Introduce Legislation to Extend Assistance for Farmers, Veterans
U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy and John Boozman (R-Ark.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, introduced the Veteran and Beginning Farmers Technical Assistance Act. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) program to continue educating farmers and ranchers on farming practices and assist veterans in becoming successful producers. "Arkansas farmers and ranchers feed the world. Providing access and c… Continue Reading
03.20.18
As Concerns About School Safety Grow, Leahy Joins In Introducing Legislation To Address Bullying
In an effort to address bullying in American schools, Senator Patrick Leahy joined Senator Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and more than 30 other senators to introduce the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Their bill is aimed at ensuring that no child is afraid to go to school for fear of unchecked bullying and harassment. Bullying is widespread and has adverse long terms consequences for children. A Department of Education study found that 1 in 5 children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be affected by b… Continue Reading
