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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy: “Today – and every day – I stand with refugees”
(Monday, June 20, 2016) - Marking World Refugee Day, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called on lawmakers to stand with refugees escaping violence and persecution around the world-and to reject divisive rhetoric. "World Refugee Day is a day we remember our common humanity and the moral imperative to love and care for one another," Leahy said. "I can think of no better time than now to pause and remember those fundamental principles." He added: "The rhetoric of … Continue Reading
06.20.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Commemorating World Refugee Day
Today, we commemorate World Refugee Day. It is a day we make clear that we stand with those who have survived the horrors of war, torture, and persecution. It is a day when we remember our common humanity and the moral imperative to love and care for one another. I can think of no better time than now to pause and remember those fundamental principles. The rhetoric of hate and intolerance has reached a frightening pitch in this country, much of it directed against innocent victims of persecut… Continue Reading
06.20.16
Leahy And Community Leaders Gather To Announce More Than $1 Million In New Funding To Help Connect Healthy Families, Farm And Food
BURLINGTON, Vt. (MONDAY, June 20, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday announced more than $1 million in new grants to support local agriculture and promote healthy communities. The grantees include Green Mountain Farm to School and Wholesome Wave, the Vermont Department of Health, and the University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies. The grants were awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) and the Agriculture and Food R… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Leahy Named A Top Negotiator On CARA Act To Address Opioid
Leahy Named A Top Negotiator On LegislationTo Address Opioid Epidemic . . . Leahy To Join House-Senate Discussions On Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 16, 2016) - The Senate on Thursday named Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) as a key negotiator in bipartisan, bicameral discussions on legislation to address the nation's opioid crisis, which has deeply impacted Vermont and other states. "I am a proud cosponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, and … Continue Reading
06.16.16
Senate Passes Leahy-Authored Bill To Improve Criminal Justice System
Senate Approves Leahy-Authored Bill To Improve Criminal Justice System. . . Renewal Of Leahy's Groundbreaking Innocence Protection Act Facilitates Post-Conviction Use Of DNA Evidence WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 16, 2016) - The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation long championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to help ensure that the criminal justice system functions fairly. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act, coauthored by Leahy and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), supports … Continue Reading
06.16.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Final Passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, On Final Passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act June 16, 2016 One of America's greatest strengths is our judicial system: a system based on the ideal of equal justice for all. The Senate has a critical role to play in protecting this judicial system. Perhaps most importantly, it is our responsibility to confirm qualified judges to vacancies throughout the country so that our courts funct… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Leahy, During Senate Dem Filibuster To Force Debate On Gun Safety, After Orlando: Senate Must Pass Commonsense Steps To Support Law Enforcement & Protect Americans In Their Communities
Leahy: Senate Must Pass Commonsense Legislation To Support Law Enforcement & Protect Americans In Their Communities WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2016) - As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee last Congress, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) moved a series of gun safety bills through committee to bring common sense reforms to our nation's gun laws. Speaking on the floor on Wednesday during an unscheduled floor discussion led by Senate Democrats to force a debate and votes on gun safety… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Terrorist Attack in Orlando, Florida
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Terrorist Attack in Orlando, Florida June 15, 2016 Marcelle and I, along with all Vermonters, were devastated by the news of the attack in Orlando, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. All Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities regardless of their race, age, sex, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. In the wake of the worst mass shooting in American history, al… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Leahy Leads Bipartisan Intro Of Bill To Tackle Rising Rx Drug Prices
Leahy Leads Bipartisan Introduction Of Legislation To Address Rising Prescription Drug Prices WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, June 14, 2016) - Top leaders on the Senate Judiciary Committee led by Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced new legislation Tuesday to combat anticompetitive practices by brand-name drug companies that delay entry of lower-priced generic drugs. The issue will also be the subject of a Senate committee hearing next week. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalen… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Introduction of the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES)
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee On Introduction of the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act June 14, 2016 In recent months, the high cost of pharmaceutical products has been front and center in national news, sometimes with astonishing examples like the unconscionable price-hike by Turing Pharmaceuticals of their drug for patients with HIV from $13.50 to $750 per pill overnight. Pharmaceutical companies s… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Final Passage of the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On Final Passage of the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act June 14, 2016 Today, the Senate approved a Defense Authorization bill of tremendous scope and containing a number of harmful provisions. I was against the decision by the Majority Leader to end debate on this bill after a period of consideration that resulted in consideration of only a handful of the over 600 amendments filed. Now, I am disappointed by its passage in the Senate. A bill t… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Leahy REAX On Court Decision TODAY Upholding FCC's Open Internet Rules, On NET NEUTRALITY
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On D.C. Circuit Court Of Appeals Decision On Open Internet Rules June 14, 2016 [The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Open Internet rules. The Open Internet rules, which were adopted in 2015, ban all domestic broadband providers from blocking or throttling lawful online content and engaging in paid prioritization agreements through which websites cou… Continue Reading
06.12.16
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Tragedy In Orlando, Florida
"All Americans deserve to feel safe regardless of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Today, I stand with the LGBT community and with all Americans who are shaken by this hateful act of terrorism and violence. "In the coming days, we will learn more details about the tragic events in Orlando and the men and women we lost in yet another tragic shooting. In our search for answers, I hope and expect leaders at all levels to maintain respect for the millions of A… Continue Reading
06.10.16
Reaction of Senator Patrick Leahy To Friday’s Announcement On Passenger Air Service Between The United States And Cuba
Reaction of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) To Friday's Announcement On Passenger Air ServiceBetween The United States And Cuba Friday, June 10, 2016 "This is another welcome and long overdue step by the United States government to reverse a half century of misguided restrictions on the rights of Americans to travel freely to Cuba, as Americans can to every other country in the world. Americans will be warmly welcomed by the Cuban people, with whom we have much in common, and Cubans who travel h… Continue Reading
06.09.16
Leahy, Grassley Work Protect Innocent Americans from Abusive Asset Forfeiture Practices
Grassley And Leahy Work Protect Innocent Americans from Abusive Asset Forfeiture Practices WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 9, 2016) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy are working to enhance procedural protections for property owners whose assets are seized by the federal government. The DUE PROCESS Act is the result of several months of bipartisan, bicameral discussions. The bill has already been introduced in the House of Representatives and has c… Continue Reading
06.09.16
Senator Leahy Speaks In Support Of The Reed Amendment To The Defense Authorization Bill, Providing An Additional $18 Billion In Non-Defense Spending, To Match Additional $18 Billion In Defense Spending Under The McCain Amendment
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Reed Second Degree Amendment to the McCain Amendment To the National Defense Authorization Act June 8, 2016 Mr. President, Senator McCain, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, believes that $602 billion is not enough for the Department of Defense. Rather than reject unnecessary spending for weapons and other programs the Pentagon says it does not want or need, the Senator from Arizona not only says we should fund them, he also proposes to spend a… Continue Reading
06.09.16
Senate Committee OKs Bill Co-Authored By Leahy To Augment Small Business Administration Programs For Members of the National Guard and Reserves
Senate Committee OKs Bill Co-Authored By LeahyTo Augment Small Business Administration ProgramsFor Members of the National Guard and Reserves . . . The National Guard and Reserve Entrepreneurship Support Act improves access to SBA programs offering counseling, loan repayment and emergency assistance . . . Bill also directs SBA to work with National Guard and State Adjutants General to improve outreach and generate awareness of programs WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 9, 2016) - A U.S. Senate commi… Continue Reading
06.09.16
Leahy’s Amendment To Improve Program That Supports Fallen and Injured First Responders Clears Committee
Leahy's Amendment To Improve Program That Supports Fallen and Injured First RespondersClears Committee . . . Reforms Will Ensure That the Families of Police Officers and First Responders Don't Lose Critical Benefits Due To Bureaucratic Processing Delays WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 9, 2016) - Efforts by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to strengthen the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program for officers and their families won unanimous support in the Judiciary Committee Thursday. The PSOB was f… Continue Reading
06.08.16
Leahy: The Federal Judiciary Cannot Be Treated Like An Election Year Pawn
Leahy: The Federal Judiciary Cannot Be Treated Like An Election Year Pawn "If the Republican leaders of this body want to distinguish themselves from the rhetoric of the campaign trail, they need to change course here in the Senate. Actions speak louder than words." WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, June 8, 2016) - The attack on a federal judge by the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee is just the latest example of GOP obstruction to the independent federal judiciary, Judiciary Committee… Continue Reading
06.08.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Partisan Attacks of the Independent Judiciary
Many Senators have appropriately condemned the racist comments recently made by the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee about Judge Curiel. And sadly, his baseless allegations come as no surprise - as we have seen for months that personal insults are the calling card of the Republican standard bearer. But anyone seeking the highest office in this great nation must understand the fundamental role that judges play in our democracy. The rule of law protects all of us, but only when … Continue Reading
