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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Floor Statement On President Trump's Helsinki Summit With Russian President Putin
In 2016, the Russian government waged a covert, multifaceted, criminal campaign to interfere in our elections, intended to help then-candidate Donald Trump win the presidency. We still do not know the full impact of Russia's interference. But it is beyond debate that it happened. Russia used inflammatory propaganda - actual fake news -- attempting to suppress Democratic turnout and boost support for Donald Trump. They also stole communications belonging to the Democratic National Committee a… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Leahy Floor Statement On The Nomination Of Ryan W. Bounds And The Abandonment Of The Senate's Blue Slip Tradition In Judicial Confirmations
As the longest-serving member of the Senate - and a former Chairman of the Judiciary Committee - I again feel obligated to speak up about the steady erosion of the norms and traditions that protect the Senate's unique constitutional role with respect to lifetime appointments to our federal courts. We should all be alarmed by the Judiciary Committee's abrupt change in course when it comes to its respect for blue slips - a change that coincides with a change in the White House. For much of this … Continue Reading
07.18.18
Leahy Applauds $2 Million Grant To Address Youth Homelessness In Vermont
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) hailed the announcement this week that the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) will receive from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a fiscal year 2017 grant of $2 million to address youth homelessness. The funds, as part of HUD's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project, are being granted to VSHA on behalf of the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care, and in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Human Services and the Vermont Coalit… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Leahy Floor Statement on Political repression in Niger
Mr. President, as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee I want to draw the Senate's attention to the plight of civil society leaders in Niger, where political and civil rights have been deteriorating over the last several years. This disturbing trend threatens the U.S. - Niger partnership, and should concern each of us. Mahamadou Issoufou was elected President of Niger in 2011, and in the following years worked cooperatively with Niger's international partners, including the United St… Continue Reading
07.16.18
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The President’s Remarks At The Trump-Putin News Conference
This is the undermining of our security interests and of the American rule of law. It is as dangerous as it is shameful. It is all the more indefensible now that President Trump feels a need to stand up for Putin and Russia. As a Vermonter and United States senator I stand up for America.… Continue Reading
07.14.18
Top Senators Tell Trump: Do Not Meet Putin Alone
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sat., July 14, 2018 WASHINGTON - Today, a group of top Senate Democrats wrote to President Trump, urging him in the strongest possible terms to avoid meeting alone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a letter to the White House, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Judi… Continue Reading
07.13.18
Sens. Cruz, Leahy, Rubio, and Menendez Pen Letter to Liu Xia
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) sent a letter to Liu Xia following her release from Chinese imprisonment. She and her late husband Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Liu Xiaobo have battled to promote democracy and freedom in China. "Over the past eight years you have responded to the abuses imposed by the Chinese government and Communist Party with endurance and grace," the senators wrote. "Your perseverance has inspired the … Continue Reading
07.13.18
BREAKING: Leahy REAX To The Indictment Of 12 Russian Intelligence Officers For Crimes Related To Interference In The U.S. Election
An indictment charging 12 Russian intelligence officers with conspiring to interfere with our presidential election is no witch hunt. I agree with Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein that as Americans we must stand together against any and all foreign interference in our democracy. Ahead of his private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump should know that Putin is going to lie to his face and deny any involvement in attacking our democracy. Our President should take t… Continue Reading
07.12.18
“Minibus” Conference Committee Delayed
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday expressed disappointment following the delay of the first Appropriations Conference Committee Meeting of the fiscal year 2019 appropriations process. Leahy is hopeful the meeting will be rescheduled and intends to offer an amendment that would facilitate funding for the VA Choice program, which was transferred only recently to the discretionary side of the budget as part of the VA MISSION Act. The House and Senate app… Continue Reading
07.11.18
Leahy Floor Statement On The Nomination Of Brian Benczkowski
Today, the Senate is considering one of the most troubling executive branch nominations that this president has made to date: the nomination of Brian Benczkowski to lead the Criminal Division of the Justice Department. It is enough to oppose Mr. Benczkowski's nomination because he is objectively unqualified for this important position. But beyond that, there are compelling reasons to believe that it would be uniquely reckless to confirm him to this position. Speaking about Mr. Benczkowski's l… Continue Reading
07.09.18
BREAKING: Statement Of Senator Leahy On The Nomination Of Judge Kavanaugh To The Supreme Court Of The United States
I have served on the Senate Judiciary Committee for the nomination hearings of every sitting member of the Supreme Court. I have never seen so much at stake with a single seat as I do today. A woman's right to make her own health decisions, marriage equality, efforts to curb global warming emissions, core post-9/11 civil liberties - all were upheld because of Justice Kennedy's vote. All that, and much more, is at risk today. The Constitution doesn't direct the President to nominate justices… Continue Reading
07.02.18
Delegation Announces $3 Million for AmeriCorps in Vermont
Vermont's congressional delegation today announced that Vermont will receive $3 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). "AmeriCorps members have an enormous impact on the lives of Vermonters through the excellent programs they support. Here in Vermont, that includes serving at-risk youth, promoting affordable housing, protecting the environment and lots more. We are very pleased these funds will allow a new group of AmeriCorps members to con… Continue Reading
07.02.18
Grassley And Leahy Seek Same-Day Audio Of All Supreme Court Arguments
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) urged the Supreme Court of the United States to release same-day audio recordings of all arguments heard before the high court. "By releasing same-day audio recordings of all oral arguments, the Court has a unique opportunity to open up its proceedings beyond the select few who will ever have the chance to be physically present during arguments. Most importantly, the American public will grow in its appreciation… Continue Reading
06.29.18
Summary Of The 2018 Senate Farm Bill
Office Of Senator Patrick Leahy Vermont Highlights In The Senate Farm Bill WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, June 29, 2018) - The five-year Farm Bill that cleared the U.S. Senate Thursday night includes significant wins for Vermont families, organic and dairy farms and rural development priorities. As a leading member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) played the key role in shaping provisions that are important to Vermont's economy, Vermont farmers, the food and nutrition o… Continue Reading
06.28.18
Leahy And Murray Introduce Legislation To Limit Warrantless Vehicle Stops And Property Searches Near The Border
U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) Thursday introduced legislation to establish critical privacy protections in the United States by limiting the unreasonably wide "border zone" within which Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers may - without warrants - stop vehicles and search private land for the purpose of patrolling the border. Currently DHS officers have broad legal authority to stop vehicles and search private land, without warrants, for the purpose o… Continue Reading
06.28.18
Leahy Leads Charge To Research Alternatives To Opioids For Chronic Pain Through Defense Department Health Program
Continuing to lead the charge in the Senate Appropriations Committee in the fight against the opioid epidemic, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday steered $10 million to a new research program in the Department of Defense to study alternatives to opioids for chronic pain management. Despite a number of programs meant to help the service community understand and address the potentially harmful effects of long-term opioid abuse, the Department of Defense does not have a comprehensive strategy… Continue Reading
06.28.18
Leahy Guides Creation Of National Centers To Address Rural Addiction Through The Senate Appropriations Committee
Drawing on the groundbreaking work being done at the University of Vermont and the UVM Medical Center to address opioid addiction in rural America, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday guided new funding through the Senate Appropriations Committee to establish three "Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders" around the country. Leahy, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said: "Rural communities, like those across Vermont, have been at the front lines of the op… Continue Reading
06.27.18
REAX Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Justice Kennedy’s Announcement Of His Decision To Retire From The Supreme Court
I urge senators, the President, and the American people to consider the methodical and measured approach Justice Kennedy has taken for decades on the Court. I did not agree with many of his opinions, but I always respected his independence, and his willingness to defend the most vulnerable and recognize the innate rights of all Americans. If President Trump attempts to replace Justice Kennedy with an extreme nominee outside of the mainstream, we face the prospect of a Supreme Court that would … Continue Reading
06.27.18
Leahy Statement At The Hearing On The FY19 Budget Request For The Department Of State
Secretary Pompeo, welcome. We appreciate you being here. You are no stranger to the Congress, and I am sure you know of the Appropriations Committee's long bipartisan support for the State Department, regardless of which party controls the White House or the Congress. I think we showed that again last week, when the Committee unanimously reported the fiscal year 2019 State, Foreign Operations bill. By rejecting the cuts proposed by OMB, our goal was to enable the United States to remain the… Continue Reading
06.26.18
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Supreme Court’s 5 To 4 Decision Upholding President Trump’s Travel Ban
"On his third attempt, President Trump regrettably was able to convince the thinnest majority of the Supreme Court to uphold his Muslim ban. Whatever garb in which the President's lawyers may have cloaked this ban, from its very inception this policy was rooted in animus toward Muslims. And there is no pretense that this is somehow required to protect our national security. Every senior national security official in the Trump administration I have asked made clear that citizenship alone is no… Continue Reading
