Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
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
06.28.16
Final SEC Rule Implements Leahy-Authored Oil/Mining Transparency Reforms In Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Law
Leahy Welcomes Completion Of SEC's Long-Awaited Proposed RuleOn Oil And Mining Transparency . . . Rule Implements Leahy-Authored Provision Of Dodd-Frank Reforms WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, June 28, 2016) -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday welcomed action by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) late Monday to finalize a rule on a long-delayed extractive industries transparency provision of the Wall Street reform law enacted in 2010. The transparency provision was authored by Leahy a… Continue Reading
06.27.16
SCOTUS Deadlocks Show The Cost Of GOP Obstruction
Leahy: SCOTUS Deadlocks Show The Cost Of GOP Obstruction "Based on the deadlocks and delays we have seen, it is clear that Senate Republicans are not acting responsibly." WASHINGTON (Monday, June 27, 2016) - The conclusion of the Supreme Court's term today highlighted the importance of the High Court to millions of Americans and their families, whose lives are in legal limbo because of the Court's repeated inability to decide cases on the merits, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patri… Continue Reading
06.27.16
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Supreme Court, Emergency Funding for Zika, and Judicial Nominations
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Supreme Court, Emergency Funding for Zika, and Judicial Nominations June 27, 2016 This morning, the Supreme Court in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt reaffirmed that women - not politicians - should make their own health care choices. This was an important decision for women's health and women's constitutional rights. But the fight to protect women's health continues. And it continues tomorrow her… Continue Reading
06.27.16
Leahy Comment On Supreme Court’s Decision In Whole Woman's Health Case
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Supreme Court's Decision In Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt June 27, 2016 [In a 5-3 decision Monday in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law imposing two onerous restrictions on abortion providers requiring 1) all doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, and 2) all abortions be provided only in medical facilities that me… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Comments On New Bill To Require Mandatory National GMO Labeling
Leahy Comments On New Bill To Require Mandatory National GMO Labeling . . . Leahy Had Led Vermont's Successful Efforts To Derail An Earlier Bill To Nullify Vermont's Law And To Replace It With A Solely Voluntary National Scheme WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, June 23, 2016) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday commented on a new agreement reached between Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and the panel's ranking member, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for a bill to instit… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Supreme Court’s Decision In Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Supreme Court's Decision In Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin June 23, 2016 [This is the second time in two years that the Supreme Court has taken up plaintiff Abigail Fisher's challenge to the University of Texas's admissions policy. In 2013, the Court held that the Fifth Circuit did not properly apply the demanding burden of strict scrutiny set forth in prior Supreme Court precedent. Upon revie… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Supreme Court’s Decision In United States v. Texas
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Supreme Court's Decision In United States v. Texas June 23, 2016 [Today, in a deadlocked 4-4 decision, the Supreme Court did not render a majority decision in a case challenging guidance from the Secretary of Homeland Security, which would temporarily defer the deportation of the parents of legal permanent residents and American citizens and make them eligible for work authorization, otherwise known as… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Need To Pass Meaningful Gun Legislation
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Need To Pass Meaningful Gun Legislation June 22, 2016 "This morning, Senate Republican leaders failed in their attempt to shift the debate away from the need to pass sensible gun legislation, and it is now time to get back to business of responsible legislating. We must strengthen our laws to make it easier to prosecute firearms traffickers and straw purchasers who put guns in the hands of terrorists a… Continue Reading
