Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On General Mills’ Announcement, As Start Of VT’s GMO Label Law Looms, That It Will Voluntarily Label Its Products For Their GMO Content
[Following are the comments of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a leader in derailing a Senate bill this week that would have nullified Vermont's GMO labeling law. Leahy is a leading member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a former chairman of the panel. He joined this week with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in introducing legislation to institute a national GMO labeling standard.] "General Mills has joined Campbell Soup, another industry leader, in saying yes to disclosure. I applaud thei… Continue Reading
03.17.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Executive Business Meeting
Mr. Chairman, you and I have served on the Judiciary Committee for a long time. We both have an appreciation for the difficult work of this Committee and the unique role it plays in our democracy. Some of the most challenging issues of the day come to this Committee. And we confront them head on. You and I have worked closely together to make government more transparent, to respond to the opioid epidemic, to promote American innovation and to improve our criminal justice system. We do not … Continue Reading
03.16.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on “Preventing America's Looming Fiscal Crisis: the Need for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution”
Today the Judiciary Committee meets to discuss a proposal that would amend the Constitution to add an unwise and unworkable balanced budget requirement. It is beyond ironic that Republican Senators are proposing to amend the U.S. Constitution at precisely the same time they are refusing to fulfill existing constitutional responsibilities. This morning President Obama carried out his constitutional duty and nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. … Continue Reading
03.16.16
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Senate’s Procedural Vote Against The Bill To Nullify Vermont’s GE Labeling Law
"Today the Senate rejected a hasty and short-sighted effort to roll back Vermont's GE labeling law. This was a hard-fought victory for Vermont, on our state's right to honor Vermonters' right to know what's in the food they buy. Our defense of Vermont's law has been fought with skill and determination in the courts, under the leadership of Governor Shumlin and others, and in the Congress. "Consumers everywhere simply have the right to know. We are not asking manufacturers to change their pr… Continue Reading
03.16.16
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland To The Supreme Court Of The United States
(Wednesday, March 16, 2016) - President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that he will nominate Chief Judge Merrick Garland to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Chief Judge Garland has served for nearly 19 years as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often referred to as the second highest court in the land, second only to the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed him to that position in 1997 by a bipartisan 76-23 vote. Prior… Continue Reading
03.16.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Accountability Within the Nigerian Military
Mr. President, nearly a year ago when Muhammadu Buhari became the first Nigerian to defeat a sitting president through the ballot box I greeted the news with cautious optimism. For the most part, his message was and remains one that encourages greater cooperation between the United States and Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram and chart a brighter course for Africa's most populous nation. Recent attacks by Boko Haram have served as a sobering reminder of the challenges Nigeria continues to face, an… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Leahy, Cornyn Bill Strengthening FOIA Passes Senate Unanimously
U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, released the following statements after the Senate passed the FOIA Improvement Act of 2015 to reform the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): "An open and transparent government is paramount to a healthy democracy, and today's vote sends a clear message that the American people have a fundamental right to know what their government is doing," said Sen. Cornyn. "This legislation will update and st… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Life of Berta Caceres
Mr. President, the woman in the photograph next to me is Berta Caceres, an indigenous Honduran environmental activist who was murdered in her home on March 3rd. Ms. Caceres was internationally admired, and in the 12 days since her death, and since my remarks on the morning after and on the day of her funeral on March 5th, there has been an outpouring of grief, outrage, remembrances, denunciations, and declarations from people in Honduras and around the world. Among the appalling facts that fe… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Final Passage of S. 337, The FOIA Improvement Act of 2015
Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate one of our nation's most basic values-the public's right to know. Our very democracy is built on the idea that our government should not operate in secret. James Madison, a staunch defender of open government and whose birthday we celebrate each year during Sunshine Week, wisely noted that for our democracy to succeed, people "must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." It is only through transparency and access to information that the American pe… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On GE Labeling, A Consumer’s Right To Know, And The Senate’s Own “Dark Act”
I want to set the record straight. Contrary to the remarks of the Senate Majority Leader yesterday, Vermont has not recently passed a GE food labeling law. Let's be clear and accurate in our words in this chamber. It was in May 2014 - nearly two years ago - that, after two years of debate and more than 50 committee hearings featuring testimony from more than 130 representatives on all sides of the issue, Vermont's Governor signed into law a disclosure requirement for genetically engineered in… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt., Ranking Member, State Department And Foreign Operations Subcommittee) On Further Rules Changes To Facilitate Americans’ Travel To Cuba
"I applaud President Obama for his vision and resolve in widening opportunities for Americans to engage with Cuba. With these latest regulatory changes the U.S. government will finally stop requiring chaperones for American citizens who travel to Cuba, and financial transactions with U.S. dollars will be simplified. These reforms will benefit the people of both countries, and I know it will be welcomed by Vermonters who are eager to engage in a wide range of activities there, from educational … Continue Reading
03.14.16
Leahy Kicks Off Sunshine Week In Keynote Speech At National Archives
(Monday, March 14, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a longtime champion of the Freedom of Information Act, said Monday that the Senate must pass the FOIA Improvement Act as soon as this week. Kicking off Sunshine Week with a keynote address at the National Archives, Leahy called for the Senate to pass the bipartisan legislation which he successfully steered through the Senate last Congress. The bipartisan bill, coauthored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), requires Federal agencies to ope… Continue Reading
03.14.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking and Opioid Addiction
I was disturbed to hear Senator McConnell's remarks on the floor last week questioning my commitment to supporting survivors of human trafficking. I think anyone who follows our efforts to stop this terrible crime knows the ridiculousness of that claim. I was particularly surprised to hear it coming from Senator McConnell who, along with Senator Grassley and other Republicans, voted against reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the Violence Against Women Act - two watershed … Continue Reading
03.11.16
From All Corners, Americans Are Calling On Republican Senators To Uphold Constitution and Consider SCOTUS Nominee
From All Corners, Americans Are Calling On Republican Senators To Uphold Constitution and Consider SCOTUS Nominee WASHINGTON (Friday, March 11, 2016) - Business leaders, legal scholars, bar associations, historians, and Americans from all corners are calling on Republican Senators to do their jobs when it comes to filling the Supreme Court vacancy. Despite the growing calls for the Senate to follow 100 years of bipartisan tradition and provide a public hearing and a vote on the president's Sup… Continue Reading
03.10.16
Leahy Hails Today’s Progress On Improving Cross-Border Travel Between Vermont and Canada As Prime Minster Trudeau Endorses Preclearance Agreement
(THURSDAY, March, 10, 2016) - During the first official visit by a sitting Canadian Prime Minister in nearly two decades, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Thursday endorsed the U.S.-Canada preclearance agreement to expedite travel and strengthen trade and national security between the two countries. The endorsement signals support of U.S implementing legislation introduced last week by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by chief Republican cosponsor Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Prime Min… Continue Reading
03.10.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Final Passage of S. 524, The Comprehensive Addiction And Recovery Act Of 2016
Eight years ago, I convened the first in a series of hearings in Vermont where the Senate Judiciary Committee examined the growing problem of drug addiction in rural communities. As we gathered in Rutland in March 2008, the mayor noted in his opening statement that there was a part of him that wished that the Committee did not have to be there in his city that day. He wished that his community was not facing the scourge of drug abuse and addiction that was creeping across rural America. But … Continue Reading
03.10.16
Senate Approves Leahy-Backed Comprehensive Legislation To Combat Opioid & Heroin Addiction
(THURSDAY, March 10, 2016) - The U.S. Senate Thursday overwhelmingly, in a vote of 94 to 1, approved major legislation backed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that addresses the opioid/heroin crisis that has gripped Vermont and states across the nation. Leahy on Thursday praised the Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a bill which aims to tackle opioid and heroin addiction through the same kind of community-based approach that has made significant improvements… Continue Reading
03.10.16
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter To FDA Backing REAL Maple Syrup
(THURSDAY, March 10, 2016) - Continuing efforts to protect Vermont maple sugar producers and consumers' right to know what is in their food, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.), joined by 28 members of Congress, Thursday urged U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf to exercise his legal authority to investigate and take action against products that falsely claim to contain maple syrup. "Product after product … Continue Reading
03.09.16
Senate Republicans Block Consensus Judicial Nominees Pending On The Floor
(Wednesday, March 9, 2016) - Senate Republicans, who are refusing any Senate process for the next Supreme Court nominee, are also blocking lower court judges from being confirmed. On Tuesday, Republicans denied confirmation votes to long-pending nominees with Republican support. Republicans on Tuesday denied the confirmation of Waverly Crenshaw, an African-American nominee who would fill a judicial emergency vacancy on the district court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Crenshaw was unan… Continue Reading
03.09.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Department of Justice Oversight Hearing
I want to welcome our Nation's top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, back to the Senate Judiciary Committee. One of the core responsibilities of this Committee is to provide oversight of the Justice Department. It is critical that carrying out that responsibility include public hearings with the Attorney General so that the American people can watch as she responds to our questions. They deserve the opportunity to evaluate for themselves the work of the Department. I l… Continue Reading
