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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy’s Latest Senate Floor Speech Today During Senate’s Debate On The Bill To Derail Vermont’s GMO Labeling Law
(THURSDAY, July 7, 2016) -- Following is a LINK to Leahy's full remarks today during the Senate's debate on the bill to nullify Vermont's GMO labeling law: https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/full-statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-the-senates-hasty-attempt-to-preempt-state-laws-and-thwart-a-consumers-right-to-know # # # # #… Continue Reading
07.07.16
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Senate’s Hasty Attempt To Preempt State Laws And Thwart A Consumer’s Right To Know
It has been just two weeks since negotiators released what can only be called a farce of a proposal to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Less than a week after it was released - without any Committee action, any testimony or recorded feedback from proponents or opponents - the Senate Majority Leader filed cloture on a privileged vehicle to fast-track the bill. Gone are the promises of regular order. Gone are the pledges of the open amendment process. Instead, the Senate w… Continue Reading
07.07.16
Full Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Senate’s Hasty Attempt To Preempt State Laws And Thwart A Consumer’s Right To Know
It has been just two weeks since negotiators released what can only be called a farce of a proposal to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Less than a week after it was released - without any Committee action, any testimony or recorded feedback from proponents or opponents - the Senate Majority Leader filed cloture on a privileged vehicle to fast-track the bill. Gone are the promises of regular order. Gone are the pledges of the open amendment process. Instead, the Senate w… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Comment On DOJ Announcement Regarding State Department Email Investigation
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Announcement by the Department of Justice Regarding State Department Email Investigation July 6, 2016 "The Attorney General has followed through on her commitment to accept the unanimous recommendation of FBI Director Comey and career prosecutors at the Department of Justice. I have every confidence that this investigation was conducted in an independent, apolitical, and professional manner. This inves… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy Conference on S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Conference on S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 July 6, 2016 The ravages of opioid addiction have reached every corner of the country. But this epidemic has struck my home state of Vermont like nothing I have seen before. From testimony I received at Senate Judiciary Committee field hearings to conversations around kitchen tables across the state, I have heard how this addiction h… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Senate Should Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Not Partisan Legislation
Leahy: Senate Should Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Not Partisan Legislation WASHINGTON (Wednesday, July 6, 2016) - A pair of partisan immigration bills that would harm communities and divert critical resources for law enforcement were defeated in the Senate on Wednesday. Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who opposed the measures, challenged Republican leaders to instead work to pass comprehensive immigration reform, just as Democrats did in the last Congr… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Senate’s New “DARK Act” An Insult to Consumers’ Right To Know
Leahy: Senate's New "DARK Act" An Insult to Consumers' Right To Know . . . Leahy Files Series Of Amendments . . . "Shortsighted, Meaningless Labeling 'Deal' Is Aimed At Derailing Vermont's Consumer-Friendly Law" WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016) - Vermont's U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D) Wednesday blasted new federal legislation, being readied for fast-track handling by its backers, that would preempt Vermont's first-in-the-nation genetically engineered labeling law, leaving consumers with… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Judicial Nominations
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Judicial Nominations July 6, 2016 This week we mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the values upon which this Nation was founded. Back in Vermont, we celebrated on July 4th with parades and fireworks displays, as did millions of Americans around the country. It is important, however, not only to celebrate our values on July 4th, but also to live by them year-round. This mean… Continue Reading
07.06.16
As Senate-House Negotiators Meet On Opioid/Heroin Bill, Leahy Urges Support For Rural Communities & For Fully Funding The Bill (CARA Act)
Leahy Urges Lawmakers To Support Rural Communities& To Fully Fund Legislation Combatting Opioid & Heroin Abuse . . . Members, Including Leahy, Meet For Senate-House Discussions On Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016) - During the Senate-House negotiations Wednesday on legislation to combat the nation's epidemic of opioid abuse, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) urged lawmakers to pass legislation that provides real … Continue Reading
07.05.16
Ahead Of Public Meeting Wednesday, Democratic CARA Conferees Call For Addition Of Real Funding To Combat Opioid & Heroin Addiction
Ahead Of Public Meeting Wednesday, Democratic CARA Conferees Call For Addition Of Real Funding To Combat Opioid & Heroin Addiction WASHINGTON (Tuesday, July 5, 2016) - Ahead of Wednesday's public meeting of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) conference committee, Democratic conferees are urging their Republican counterparts to support the addition of $920 million fully paid for by bipartisan offsets for states to provide critical resources to respond to the nation's opioid … Continue Reading
07.05.16
Comment On The FBI’s Independent Review of Secretary Clinton’s Use of Email
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The FBI's Independent Review of Secretary Clinton's Use of Email July 5, 2016 "The FBI took its responsibilities seriously, and came to a conclusion after carefully reviewing all of the evidence. I take Director Comey at his word that the FBI honestly and independently conducted an apolitical and professional investigation. I commend him for making public his recommendation not to bring criminal charges. I… Continue Reading
07.01.16
Cornyn, Leahy Bill Strengthening FOIA Signed by President
Cornyn, Leahy Bill Strengthening FOIA Signed by President Bipartisan Open Government Reform Legislation Becomes Law WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 30, 2016) - United States Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) issued the following statements after President Obama signed their FOIA Improvement Act into law Thursday afternoon: "One of our country's hallmark values is a commitment to open and transparent government, and today is an important step towards ensuring the American people … Continue Reading
06.30.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Presidential Signing of S. 337, the FOIA Improvement Act of 2015
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Presidential Signing of S. 337, the FOIA Improvement Act of 2015 June 30, 2016 The Freedom of Information Act has been our premier transparency law for the last 50 years. As we recognize its 50th birthday on July 4th, we have even more reason to celebrate. That is because today, President Obama signed into law the bipartisan FOIA Improvement Act which ushers in the most significant reforms of FOIA since … Continue Reading
06.30.16
Bipartisan Green Climate Fund Amendment Passes Senate Appropriations Committee
Bipartisan Green Climate Fund Amendment Passes Senate Committee WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 30, 2016) -- The Senate Appropriations Committee has passed an amendment to the State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill that would fund the Green Climate Fund, an essential part of the international climate agreement reached in Paris last fall. The amendment was cosponsored by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jeanne Shaheen (… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Opening Statement Of Senator Leahy At Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With DHS Secretary Johnson
Opening Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy - SJC Oversight Hearing With DHS Secretary Johnson WASHINGTON (Thursday, June 30, 2016) - Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is attending an oversight hearing this morning of the Department of Homeland Security with Secretary Jeh Johnson. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of the hearing are available online. Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Oversigh… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Leahy: VT Nets $7m For Homeland Security Emergency Management And Preparedness
Leahy: Vermont Nets More Than $7 Million For Homeland Security Emergency Management And Preparedness (WEDNESDAY, June 29, 2016) -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday announced that Vermont will receive more than $7 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help Vermont communities with prevention and preparedness. Leahy said: "Enhancing our security means supporting not only our border control and law enforcement, but also improving critical in… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy Hearing On "Protecting Older Americans from Financial Exploitation”
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing On "Protecting Older Americans from Financial Exploitation" June 29, 2016 Today's hearing shines an important light on the need to protect seniors from financial exploitation. Financial fraud costs older Americans an estimated $3 billion per year. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to this type of crime. They have been exploited through schemes where fraudsters claim to be from the IRS or popular c… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $2.1 million in AmeriCorps Funding for Vermont
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $2.1 million in AmeriCorps Funding for Vermont VERMONT (WEDNESDAY, June 29, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) today announced that Vermont has received $2.1 million in AmeriCorps funding. The grants are from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service programs. In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders, and Welch said, "Since its incepti… Continue Reading
06.28.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy before Judiciary Subcommittee on “Willful Blindness: Consequences of Agency Efforts To Deemphasize Radical Islam in Combating Terrorism”
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts On "Willful Blindness: Consequences of Agency Efforts To Deemphasize Radical Islam in Combating Terrorism" June 28, 2016 Today's hearing comes 16 days after one of the worst mass shootings in our nation's history. The massacre of 49 innocent people in an attack on an LGBT nightclub in Orlando is… Continue Reading
06.28.16
Statement on Labeling Genetically Engineered Ingredients
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Labeling Genetically Engineered Ingredients Senate Floor June 28, 2016 This week marks an historic moment in Vermont. This coming Friday, July 1, Vermont's Act 120, the first-in-the-nation labeling law for genetically engineered (GE) foods, will take effect. Unfortunately for consumers everywhere, it could be a short-lived celebration. Late last week, a so-called "deal" was reached on a national mandatory labeling law. I have now had the chance to rev… Continue Reading
