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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Joins Letter To Secretary Mattis Demanding Why JAGs Are Being Sent To Southern Border
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today wrote to Secretary of Defense James Mattis urging him to reverse his recent decision to send military Judge Advocates (JAGs) to the Southern border to prosecute immigration cases. The Defense Departmen… Continue Reading
06.21.18
Leahy Opening Remarks At The FY19 State And Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Markup
Thank you Mr. Chairman. At a time when some, including at the highest level, in our government seem to not miss any opportunity to fan the flames of intolerance and division in this country - and division between the United States and other nations including some of our closest allies - this Committee has refused to take part. We have instead sought to promote bipartisanship and unity in support of appropriations bills that reflect what is in the best interest of all Americans. For a second … Continue Reading
06.20.18
NEWS from Leahy and Scott: President Nominates Retired Essex Police Chief To Be Vermont’s Next U.S. Marshal
President Trump on Wednesday nominated retired Essex Police Chief Brad LaRose to be Vermont's next U.S. Marshal. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Governor Phil Scott (R) had jointly recommended LaRose to the President in January, to fill the vacancy. If confirmed, LaRose would oversee all U.S. Marshals Service operations in Vermont. With offices in Burlington, Rutland, and Brattleboro, the Marshals Service plays a crucial role in protecting public safety in Vermont and is responsible for app… Continue Reading
06.20.18
BREAKING: Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On President Trump's Reversal Of His Mandatory Family Separation Policy
Today the American people, through their forceful and justified outrage, proved that people, joining together, can drive positive change even during the Trump administration. After weeks of false and conflicting justifications for requiring that children be torn from their parents at the border, the President backed down. But we must not be fooled. We need to ensure that the 2,500 children already separated are promptly reunited with their families. We must be clear that mass incarceration … Continue Reading
06.20.18
REAX Of Appropriations Vice Chair Leahy To The Senate’s Vote Wednesday Afternoon Rejecting President Trump’s Rescission Package
The Senate has reinforced the bipartisan, bicameral budget deal struck by Congress four months ago by rejecting President Trump's shortsighted rescission package. The message that this vote sends at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue will be heard loudly and clearly. Here in the Senate, we are committed to making the appropriations process work again. The Appropriations Committee has reported seven, bipartisan appropriations bills, and we will consider three more tomorrow in committee. This w… Continue Reading
06.20.18
Secretary of State Jim Condos and Senator Patrick Leahy Announce Vermont’s Receipt Of $3 Million in Federal Election Security Funds for Vermont Elections
Secretary of State Jim Condos and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy announced today that the State of Vermont has received $3 million in State Election Security Grants appropriated by Congress to bolster election security efforts and replace aging election infrastructure. "These funds will allow us to make critical upgrades to our elections systems to bolster their security" said Secretary Condos. "In this digital age bad actors are always evolving so we must work diligently to stay one step ahead of … Continue Reading
06.19.18
FY2019 State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Approved by Senate Subcommittee
SUMMARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS FISCAL YEAR 2019 APPROPRIATIONS BILL Subcommittee Mark: June 19, 2018 Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, June 19, 2018) - The bill provides $54.418 billion in discretionary budget authority, including $8 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations. The allocation is $12.2 billion above the President's request and $400 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level. U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ran… Continue Reading
06.19.18
Senate Subcommittee Approves FY2019 Financial Services & General Government Appropriations Bill
SUMMARY Financial Services and General Government FISCAL YEAR 2019 APPROPRIATIONS BILL Subcommittee Mark: June 19, 2018 Washington, D.C. - The fiscal year 2019 Senate Financial Services and General Government bill provides $23.688 billion to related agencies, which is $265 million more than fiscal year 2018, and $70 million more than the President's budget request. "U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Su… Continue Reading
06.18.18
Leahy Leads Judiciary Democrats In Letter To Grassley Calling For Hearing On President Trump's Family Separation Policy
On Monday, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Judiciary Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), calling on him to promptly hold a hearing on the Trump administration's inhumane family separation policy. Since President Trump announced his "zero-tolerance" policy, nearly 2,500 children - some of them just infants - have been torn away from their families at the border. Leahy and Judicia… Continue Reading
06.18.18
Vermont Receives Increased Opioid Funding Through New Leahy-Negotiated Omnibus Formula
Senator Patrick Leahy welcomed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Monday announcement that Vermont will receive an allocation of $4 million in fiscal year 2018 to fight the opioid epidemic across the state. The funding, a significant increase over past years, is part of a new State Opioid Response Grant program created as part of the Leahy-negotiated 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law this spring. Vermont's $4 million grant is a direct re… Continue Reading
06.15.18
Leahy Announces Significant Funding Increases To Programs That Protect and Preserve Lake Champlain
(FIRDAY, June 15, 2018) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Thursday that the Interior and Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bills approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee include significant wins for Lake Champlain. Leahy, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has long fought for resources to protect Vermont's 'great Lake.' The Interior and CJS bills approved by the Appropriations Committee include at least $12.5 million for Lake Champlain, and include … Continue Reading
06.15.18
Leahy Advances Creation Of National Center For Restorative Justice
(FRIDAY, June 15, 2018) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday advanced legislation through the Appropriations Committee that calls for the establishment of a National Center For Restorative Justice. Leahy formulated the request based on work already being done at Vermont Law School and the University of Vermont, and with other institutions and entities across the Green Mountain State. The Center would focus on collaborative ways to reduce recidivism and … Continue Reading
06.15.18
Leahy Advances Record Funding For Violence Against Women Act Programs; Increase For Bulletproof Vests Program
(FRIDAY, June 15, 2018) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday guided record funding of $497.5 million to support Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, an increase of $5.5 million compared to the current fiscal year and the highest level ever provided for VAWA programs administered by the Department of Justice. Leahy also shepherded an appropriation of $25 million -- a $2.5 million increase -- to help local law enforcement purchase bulletproof vests… Continue Reading
06.15.18
Leahy Leads Fight Against Opioid Epidemic In Senate Appropriations Committee
(FRIDAY, June 15, 2018) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday led the Senate Appropriations Committee in continuing historic investments in the fight against the opioid epidemic. The Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill includes $482.5 million, a $36 million increase over the current fiscal year, to help communities and state and local law enforcement fight heroin and the illegal distribution and use of opioids… Continue Reading
06.14.18
Leahy-Grassley CREATES Act To Lower Prescription Drug Prices Clears Judiciary Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act by a strong bipartisan vote of 16 to 5. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), would combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block lower-cost generic drugs. Drug prices are rising rapidly and nearly one in four patients s… Continue Reading
06.14.18
Leahy Comment On The DOJ Inspector General's Report
As Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 2016 election, Senator Leahy sent a private letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz asking him to initiate a review of the FBI's handling of the investigations related to Secretary Hillary Clinton. This request, on November 7, 2016, followed then-Director of the FBI James Comey's decision to inform Congress that it was re-opening the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails based on newly discovered evidence of unknown relev… Continue Reading
06.14.18
Leahy Judiciary Committee Statement On The CREATES Act
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for listing the CREATES Act. I also want to thank you and Senators Klobuchar, Lee, Feinstein, and many others on this Committee for supporting this legislation. I am hopeful that we are one step closer today to getting it to the president's desk, which would result in Americans saving literally billions of dollars on prescription drugs. The CREATES Act targets a simple yet devastating scheme that some brand name drug companies have used to keep drug prices high: They… Continue Reading
06.13.18
Leahy Amendment Adds Bipartisan Reauthorization Of The Northern Border Regional Commission To The 2018 Farm Bill
In a vote of 20 to 1, the Senate Agriculture Committee Wednesday passed a new five-year Farm Bill that includes an amendment by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to reauthorize the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) through 2023. Leahy advocated for the creation of the Commission in the 2008 Farm Bill and successfully reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill. The commission promotes regional coordination and invests in job creation efforts and economic development in distressed counties in t… Continue Reading
06.13.18
Leahy Statement At The Agriculture Committee Markup Of The Farm Bill
Thank you, Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, for working together in a bipartisan fashion to draft this 2018 Farm Bill. This bill is a demonstration of what the Senate can achieve when we cast aside the rancor and rhetoric, and focus on the real challenges we face. In fact, this bill reminds me of the compromises made during my tenure as Chairman or Ranking Member of this Committee. Our nation's agricultural, food, and environmental systems all benefit from provisions included in t… Continue Reading
06.12.18
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Trump-Kim Summit Meeting
I commend President Trump for beginning direct negotiations. But it is troubling that the President has agreed to unilaterally halt military exercises with South Korea without verifiable commitments from North Korea to denuclearize, while giving Kim the recognition he has long craved. So far all we have seen is a photo op coupled with a few broadly worded commitments. Clearly it will be months, if not years, before we know whether yesterday's meeting achieves anything of lasting value, and I … Continue Reading
