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311 rows where party = "Democrat", state = "VT" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending

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https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-congressman-john-lewis Comments on Congressman John Lewis 2019-12-30 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.30.19 Comments on Congressman John Lewis As are Americans everywhere, Marcelle and I are heartsick about the new challenge facing our dear friend John Lewis. John Lewis has been called our apostle of quiet strength, and the best of humanity. I have called him a hero for our time, of our time. Of the thousands of leaders I have served with, his contributions of conscience have been living examples to us all. He has certainly nourished mine. He spent an eventful day with us in Vermont late this year, forging memories and sowing insights that will always be with us. Most recently we stood together as several of us reintroduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which itself is a reflection of John Lewis's personal history, as well as of his conscience. We know that he is strong, and he knows that he has our prayers and our fervent hopes as he takes on this new battle. # # # # # [NOTE: Senator Leahy today posted several photos about John Lewis on his Instagram page.] Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-the-detention-of-senator-de-lima-by-the-government-of-the-philippines Comment On The Detention Of Senator De Lima By The Government Of The Philippines 2019-12-28 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.28.19 Comment On The Detention Of Senator De Lima By The Government Of The Philippines "The imprisonment of Senator De Lima, and the threats against renowned journalist Maria Ressa, have been criticized around the world, including by the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations. Rather than responding by irrationally threatening to deny visas to American citizens, the Duterte government should either release Senator De Lima immediately or provide her the fair, public trial she is entitled to. And rather than try to silence a journalist who has bravely dared to expose official corruption and abuse, it should recognize Maria Ressa as a courageous Filipino exercising her right of free expression." Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-bill-promoting-international-tourism-signed-law Welch Bill Promoting International Tourism Signed Into Law 2019-12-23 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON President Trump has signed into law a fiscal year 2020 spending bill that includes bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) to promote Vermont and other states as a destination for international tourists. Welch's bill reauthorizes Brand USA, a successful public-private partnership funded at no cost to taxpayers through a user fee on international visitors. Welch's bill renews the program through 2027 and resolves a funding glitch that threatened its existence. The travel and tourism industry is a key driver of Vermont's economy, said Welch. Promoting Vermont as a four-season destination for international visitors will create local jobs and boost the economy in every corner of our beautiful state.This bipartisan win renews the successful Brand USA international marketing program and locks in a stable funding source that will advance Vermont's reputation as a world class tourism destination. The Vermont Chamber is thrilled that the Brand USA program has been renewed. Representative Welch continues to be a leader on this issue and clearly recognizes the importance of this industry to Vermont. With 13 million visitors a year and approximately $2 billion in annual spending, continuing to strengthen this industry is a successful economic strategy in Vermont, said Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Brand USA has a strong track record of attracting international visitors to the United States. In 2018 alone, it brought 1.13 million international visitors to the United States, generating an economic impact of $8.9 billion. In October, Welch unveiled his bill at a Stowe roundtable discussion with Vermont travel and tourism leaders. He is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from which the bill originated. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahys-bill-to-cut-billions-of-dollars-in-prescription-drug-costs-goes-to-presidents-desk Leahy’s Bill To Cut Billions Of Dollars In Prescription Drug Costs Goes To President’s Desk 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.19.19 Leahy's Bill To Cut Billions Of Dollars In Prescription Drug Costs Goes To President's Desk . . . Caps Three-Year Drive To Methodically Build Bipartisan Support WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019) The Senate Thursday passed legislation authored and sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that will bring down prescription drug costs by removing obstacles to lower-cost generic medicines. Leahy said President Trump will sign it into law by this weekend. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act is designed to deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill will result in a $3.7 billion net decrease in the federal deficit over 10 years. Savings to consumers and private insurers are expected to be far greater many billions of dollars more. Leahy said: It's taken years of work to get this across the finish line, and the savings it will mean for Vermonters and consumers across the country are well worth it. High prescription drug costs are a pocketbook issue in millions of households. These reforms are an obvious way to lighten that burden, saving consumers billions of dollars, and federal agencies billions more. Vermonters across our state have told me that soaring drug costs can make them have to choose between the medicines they need, or putting food on their families' tables. That's heartbreaking, that's appalling, and that's unnecessary. Leahy first introduced the bill in 2016 and since then has methodically built a bipartisan coalition of support for it. He enlisted Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) as his chief Republican cosponsor, and year by year, the Leahy bill has had even numbers of Democratic and Republican cosponsors. The CREATES Act is an example of what can be accomplished when Congress works in a bipartisan way to get important thin… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-fy-2020-domestic-priorities-and-international-assistance-appropriations-minibus-bill-and-the-fy-2020-national-security-appropriations-minibus-bill Statement On The FY 2020 Domestic Priorities & International Assistance Appropriations "Minibus" Bill And The FY 2020 National Security Appropriations "Minibus" Bill 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.19.19 Statement On The FY 2020 Domestic Priorities & International Assistance Appropriations "Minibus" Bill And The FY 2020 National Security Appropriations "Minibus" Bill . . . Senate Floor This week we reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to fund the federal government in fiscal year 2020. The agreement rejects the devastating and short-sighted cuts proposed by President Trump, and makes historic investments in the American people and working families. It fully implements the bipartisan budget agreement and allows us to invest an additional $27 billion in non-defense programs that will benefit our nation's children, improve our educational institutions, protect our environment, combat the opioid crisis, promote and grow our economy, invest in our infrastructure, and protect our elections. The 12 appropriations bills are packaged into 2 minibus appropriations bills. The first we refer to as the Domestic Minibus bill. It contains eight appropriations bills: Agriculture; Energy & Water; Interior; Labor, HHS, and Education; Legislative Branch; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. The Domestic Minibus is a strong, bipartisan bill that makes real and historic investments in the American people and our communities. It rejects the anti-science know-nothingism of President Trump by making record-level investments in science and research programsincluding increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Investments in cutting edge science and research are vital to ensure America leads the way in new technologies, new medical treatments, and breakthrough therapies. It invests in our children and in education by providing increases to programs with proven successHead Start, the Child Care Development Block grant, child … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-remarks-during-house-debate-impeachment Welch Remarks During House Debate on Impeachment 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Representative Peter Welch spoke on the House floor early Wednesday evening ahead of the historic House vote on impeaching President Donald Trump. Welch will vote in favor of both articles of impeachment. Video of Welch's remarks is here. Welch is a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the Oversight and Reform Committee, both of which investigated the President's conduct in this matter. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-the-house-vote-to-impeach-president-donald-j-trump Comment On The House Vote To Impeach President Donald J. Trump 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.18.19 Comment On The House Vote To Impeach President Donald J. Trump This evening the U.S. House of Representatives exercised one of its most significant powers by impeaching President Donald J. Trump, making him just the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. The House did not make this historic decision lightly. After a deliberate, months-long investigation involving hundreds of hours of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses and multiple public hearings, the House concluded that President Trump abused the powers of his office for purely personal gain by corruptly trying to coerce a foreign ally facing Russian aggression to investigate his domestic political rival. The House also concluded that the President systematically obstructed Congress obstruction grounded in neither law nor precedent in its constitutionally authorized inquiry, in order to hide his misconduct. As the Speaker solemnly stated earlier today, the House believed that President Trump and the Constitution, which every House Member has sworn to uphold above all else left no choice but to impeach. Every senator has taken that same oath to the Constitution. And all 100 senators will take yet another oath to serve as impartial jurors during the Senate's trial to determine whether to convict and remove President Trump from office. Whether the Senate functions as a true court of impeachment as the Founders envisioned steadfastly pursuing the truth and upholding our oaths to pursue impartial justice or functions merely as President Trump's legal defense team will define us for decades to come. History will not look kindly upon those who place loyalty to this or any other president above our oaths to the Constitution. I have seen the Senate, at its best, rise to the occasion to be the conscience of the nation. If there ever were a time for the Senate to serve as the conscience of the nation, it is now. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-releases-summary-of-vermont-highlights-in-the-state-department-and-foreign-operations-appropriations-bill Leahy Releases Summary Of Vermont Highlights In The State Department And Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.18.19 Leahy Releases Summary Of Vermont Highlights In The State Department And Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019) -- As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) secured key wins for Vermont in each of the 12 annual Appropriations bills that fund the federal government. All 12 bills are included in the budget agreement that he and the other top Appropriations leaders negotiated, which groups the 12 bills into two omnibus packages of bills. The House passed them Tuesday, and the Senate is now debating them and will vote ahead of the Midnight Friday deadline, which will avert another government shutdown. Leahy co-wrote all of these bills and is a manager of the Senate's debate. Leahy also is the Ranking Member of the Appropriations subcommittee that writes the annual budget bills for the State Department and for U.S. foreign operations, the Subcommittee on the State Department And Foreign Operations (SFOPS). BELOW are summaries of several provisions that Leahy succeeded in including in the SFOPS portions of the agreement. Vermont Highlights In The State Department And Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill For Fiscal Year 2020 . . . . . . . At-A-Glance . . . . . . . Vermont Fisheries/Watersheds $9 million for sea lamprey control, water quality improvements, research, and fish restoration in the Lake Champlain Basin, an increase of $2 million. The President proposed to eliminate this funding. $500,000 for the protection and restoration of the habitat and associated species of the Lake Memphremagog fishery, double the amount provided last year. The President proposed to eliminate this funding. Additional funding for the multi-year, U.S.-Canadian study on the causes and impacts of, and mitigation options for, flooding in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River watershed. The President's proposed budget underfunded the U.S. share for this study. International Exchange Programs $731 million, an in… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-approves-top-welch-priorities-government-funding-bill House Approves Top Welch Priorities in Government Funding Bill 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON With funding for federal government operations set to expire at midnight Friday, the House of Representatives this afternoon approved two appropriations bills that reject draconian cuts proposed by President Trump and fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2020, which began on October 1, 2019. Both bills are expected to be approved by the Senate and signed into law before the Friday night deadline. H.R. 1158, which primarily funds federal domestic programs, includes key Vermont priorities championed in the House by Rep. Peter Welch during the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process, including: The reauthorization of Brand USA, a program that boosts international tourist visits to Vermont and other states.Welch unveiled the legislation at a Stowe travel and tourism roundtable in October. The CREATES Act, which combats anti-competitive practices by brand-name drug companies that slow federal approval of more affordable generic alternatives. Welch is a co-lead of the legislation in the House. An increase of $5 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission, for a total of $25 million. An increase of $50 million for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, for a total of $3.7 billion. An increase of $100 million for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Grants (formerly TIGER Grants), for a total of $1 billion. Also included is $14.2 million for Vermont highway and transit infrastructure programs and grants. An increase of $411 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, for a total of $2.8 billion. An increase of $57 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund for a total of $495 million, the highest funding level since fiscal year 2004. An increase of $2.6 billion for the National Institutes of Health for research on disease cures and treatments, for a total of $41.7 billion. $640 million to fund broadband deployment. $1.5 billion for State Opioid Response Grants. A mandate for the Department of Health and Human Services t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-secures-key-victories-for-vermont-in-appropriations-agreement Leahy Secures Key Victories For Vermont In Appropriations Agreement 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.17.19 Leahy Secures Key Victories For Vermont In Appropriations Agreement WASHHINGTON (TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday announced several key victories for Vermont in the fiscal year 2020 appropriations agreement reached late Monday. The $1.4 trillion bipartisan, bicameral agreement rejects the devastating and shortsighted cuts proposed by President Trump, and it makes historic investments in the American people and working families. The agreement took shape late last week when Chairman Shelby, Vice Chairman Leahy, House Chairwoman Lowey, and House Ranking Member Granger met in Leahy's Capitol office, mirroring the same successful negotiation earlier this year between the four that ended the longest partial government shutdown in American history. Leahy said: I'm gratified to be in a position to give Vermont a center seat as we set our national priorities in these annual funding bills. These investments in our Green Mountain State will support Vermont's dairy farmers, continue efforts to clean up our Great' Lake Champlain, and revitalize our historic downtowns. I look forward to Senate passage later this weekend and getting this bill signed into law. A summary of the agreement and national highlights can be found HERE: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/senate-appropriations-committee-vice-chairman-patrick-leahy-releases-fiscal-year-2020-funding-agreement At-A-Glance Vermont Highlights In The 2020 Appropriations Bill Lake Champlain -- $25.5 Million This is an increase $4.5 million over fiscal year 2019. This expanded funding will be used to improve water quality challenges in Lake Champlain, including phosphorous runoff, sea lamprey control, salmon and lake trout restoration, invasive species control, and other ecosystem work. President Trump's budget would have eliminated funding for Lake Champlain. Dairy -- $6 Million The agreement includes $20 million for a new re… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-grassley-hail-inclusion-of-their-creates-act-in-the-year-end-spending-agreement Leahy And Grassley Hail Inclusion Of Their CREATES Act In The Year-End Spending Agreement 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.16.19 Leahy And Grassley Hail Inclusion Of Their CREATES Act In The Year-End Spending Agreement . . . Reforms Would Save Taxpayers $3.7 B., And Consumers Much More, By Removing Obstacles To Lower-Cost Prescription Drugs WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019) Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) Monday hailed the inclusion of their legislation to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs in the domestic appropriations package filed today in the House. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. The bill is sponsored by Leahy and cosponsored by Grassley who, like Leahy, is a former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Other leading cosponsors are Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar, leaders of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. A companion House bill was introduced by Representatives David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law, joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.). Leahy said: I hear from Vermonters every day that rising prescription drug prices are increasingly straining their tight budgets. For too long, a few predatory name brand drug companies have used anticompetitive strategies to delay entry of lower cost generic drugs and to prolong monopolies on key medicines and lifesaving drugs. When these companies use unfair practices to keep drug prices … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-appropriations-committee-vice-chairman-patrick-leahy-releases-fiscal-year-2020-funding-agreement Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Agreement 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.16.19 Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Agreement ...Congressional Democrats Reject Dangerous Cuts And Champion Historic Investments In The American People And Working Families WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019) The House Monday evening released a $1.4 trillion bipartisan, bicameral agreement to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2020, rejecting the devastating and short sighted cuts proposed by President Trump, and making historic investments in the American people and working families. The agreement took shape late last week when Chairman Shelby, Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairwoman Lowey, and Ranking Member Granger met in Leahy's Capitol office, mirroring the same successful negotiation between the four that ended the longest partial government shutdown in American history. Leahy said: Any successful compromise will leave both sides unhappy. But this is a strong, bipartisan bill that makes real and historic investments in the American people and communities. It rejects the anti-science know-nothingism of President Trump, continues funding to secure our elections ahead of the 2020, and for the first time in decades it makes a real investment in researching the causes of gun violence. I look forward to working with my dear friend Chairman Shelby, Chairwoman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger in urging our colleagues to pass this bill and send it to the President as soon as possible. The agreement flatly rejects the devastating cuts proposed by President Trump that would have completely eliminated several programs that the American people rely on like: Low Income Home Energy Assistance; Community Development Block Grants; HOME; After School And Teacher Training Programs; 37 Rural Development Grant Programs; Legal Services Corporation; The Anti- Heroin And Anti-Meth Task Forces; and Teen Pregnancy Prevention. On t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-help-vermonters-upgrade Welch Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help Vermonters Upgrade Inefficient Wood Stoves 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) introduced legislation to create a new federal grant program that will assist Vermonters seeking to upgrade their old, inefficient wood stoves to more economical and energy efficient models. Many Vermonters rely on wood stoves to stay warm through our long winters, said Welch. This common sense, bipartisan bill will help interested homeowners upgrade to more efficient modern stoves. Doing so will lower heating bills and help the environment. The Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act (WHERA) of 2019 (H.R. 5391) authorizes $75 million annually for six years for a new grant program that provides incentives for households to upgrade old wood stoves for newer, more efficient and cleaner burning stoves. It would also encourage the recycling of old stoves replaced by the project. Companion legislation, S. 2274, has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Thomas Carper (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Welch has long been a leader in Congress on energy efficiency issues. He is a senior member of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, which will consider the legislation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-vote-imminent-prescription-drug-price-relief-bill House Vote Imminent on Prescription Drug Price Relief Bill 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT At an airport press conference this morning before returning to Washington, Rep. Peter Welch outlined major drug price relief legislation that will be considered by the House on Thursday. The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 (H.R. 3) will empower the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry, saving taxpayers and consumers an estimated $500 billion. Welch has long championed price negotiation legislation in Congress. He was joined at the press conference by Jericho's Lanie Kanat whose son is living with Fragile X Syndrome. Also participating were Kelly Stoddard Poor of Vermont AARP and Lisa Ventriss of Vermont Business Roundtable. This comprehensive bill will bring long overdue drug price relief to Vermont's consumers, including families like the Kanats who are struggling to afford lifesaving medicines, said Welch. It is a common sense solution that empowers the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices with Big Pharma. There is simply no reason why the federal government, the largest purchaser of drugs in the nation, should pay retail drug prices through the Medicare program. Lower drug prices will provide across-the-board relief to seniors, taxpayers, businesses and consumers. H.R 3 empowers the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices on the most expensive and utilized drugs covered by Medicare. Savings achieved from negotiations would be made available to commercial health insurance plans covering the same drugs. The refusal of any drug company to negotiate would result in a steep tax penalty. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would save taxpayers and consumers approximately $500 billion. Savings would be invested in an expansion of Medicare benefits to cover dental, hearing and vision services; increased funding for research on disease cures and treatments; community health centers; and efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The bill is named after the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, Welch's partner… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/harris-leads-colleagues-in-demand-for-stephen-millers-removal-from-the-white-house Harris Leads Colleagues in Demand For Stephen Miller’s Removal From The White House 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.09.19 Harris Leads Colleagues in Demand For Stephen Miller's Removal From The White House . . . . 27 Senators Demand The Immediate Firing Of Stephen Miller Amid Multiple, Consistent Reports Of Miller's Alignment With White Supremacist Ideology And Far-Right Extremism WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Monday led 26 of her colleagues in a letter to President Donald J. Trump, demanding the immediate removal ofStephenMillerfrom his position asaWhite House senior adviser. The letter follows recent reports detailing over 900 e-mails, sent from Mr.Millerto far-right Breitbart News between 2015 and 2016, which confirm that Mr.Millerworked to advance whitesupremacist, anti-immigrant ideologies. In the letter, the senators connect the e-mails to specific immigration policies Mr.Millerhas implemented in his current position. In addition to Harris, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) signed the letter. Mr.Miller's demonstrable white nationalist ideology has directly translated into your administration's policies, which have been widely criticized for systematically targeting communities of color,wrote the senators.The Muslim ban targeted individuals of color and caused chaos at U.S. airports around the country, wreaking havoc on the lives of countless individuals and families.The family separation policy tore children from their families, resulting in w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-hails-house-passage-of-hr-4-the-voting-rights-advancement-act Leahy Hails House Passage Of H.R. 4, The Voting Rights Advancement Act 2019-12-06 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.06.19 Leahy Hails House Passage Of H.R. 4, The Voting Rights Advancement Act . . . Leahy, Author Of Senate Companion Bill, Urges Majority Leader McConnell To Allow Vote On Landmark Legislation In Senate . . . this is a bulwark against voter suppression' (FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senate author and champion of the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 (S.561), praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the House version of this landmark legislation (H.R.4) to remedy the Supreme Court's Shelby County decision that decimated the Voting Rights Act. Leahy urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to let the Senate vote on the bill so that it can be sent to the President's desk. Leahy said the right to vote is foundational to our democracy and that the high court's decision opened the floodgates to systematic efforts in many states to disenfranchise minority voters. Our bill is a bulwark against voter suppression, he said. Leahy said: The House has done its part. Now the Senate must do our part. Fifty-four years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, voter suppression should be left to the history books, yet it's alive and well today. Batons and police dogs may have been replaced by closing polling places and purging voter rolls, but the goal remains the same: state-sponsored, systematic disenfranchisement of minority voters. Our bill is a check on these suppression schemes, empowering all of our citizens to participate in their democracy. Leahy continued: It would be a travesty of justice, and a failure of democracy, to let this bill languish in Leader McConnell's legislative graveyard. I urge him now to follow the House's lead and allow a vote. The Voting Rights Act has always been a bipartisan achievement. Restoring and protecting the sacrosanct right to vote is not a partisan issue it's an American issue. History is watching. Let's show the world that we… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-legislation-crack-down-unwanted-and-predatory-robocalls House Passes Legislation to Crack Down on Unwanted and Predatory Robocalls 2019-12-05 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Late yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to crack down on unwanted and predatory robocalls. The House vote was 417-3. The Senate is expected to approve the bill in the near future and send it to the desk of President Trump for his expected signature. Vermonters are fed up with intrusive robocalls that are annoying at best and predatory at worst, said Welch. These calls often originate from scam artists intent on ripping off unsuspecting consumers, particularly seniors. This bill gives the FCC the tools it needs to be the cop on the beat to go after these bad actors. Specifically, the TRACED Act will: Ensure the FCC has the authority to take decisive action to track down robocallers violating the law; Allow consumers to revoke prior consent to receive calls; Require carriers to offer call-authentication technology to consumers and small businessesin rural and urban Americaat no additional charge; Require opt-in or opt-out robocall blocking be offered at no additional charge to consumers; Require the FCC to work to stop one-ring scams; and Extend the statute of limitations from one to four years for robocallers violating the law. In May, Welch was joined at an airport press conference by Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan and Shelburne senior Kathryn Ottinger to highlight legislation he cosponsored to tackle the problem. Mrs. Ottinger shared her experience of being bombarded at her home by daily robocalls. During House debate on the bill, Welch spoke about how the bill would benefit Mrs. Ottinger and other Vermonters. Here is video of his remarks. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-inter-american-foundation Statement On The Fiftieth Anniversary Of The Inter-American Foundation 2019-12-05 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.05.19 Statement On The Fiftieth Anniversary Of The Inter-American Foundation Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, for fifty years the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) has partnered with grassroots organizations and underserved populations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to advance U.S. interests by helping to improve the lives of the hemisphere's poorest people, supporting civil society, and strengthening democratic institutions. I want to take this opportunity today, on IAF's 50th anniversary, to comment briefly on the Foundation's accomplishments and on the unique value of small-grant, community-led development. In 1969, Congress established IAF as an independent development agency charged with identifying and investing in community-led development solutions. IAF awards small grants, averaging $280,000 over four years, directly to local organizations, eliminating costly intermediaries and ensuring programs are led and implemented locally. IAF also requires grantees to contribute or mobilize their own cash or in-kind resources, helping to ensure sustainability and local investment in project success. On average, such counterpart investments mobilize $1.31 for every $1 invested by IAF. According to IAF, in fiscal year 2019 alone, it awarded $18.5 million to 97 grassroots organizations in 24 countries and mobilized $20 million in grantee counterpart resources. IAF grantees created more than 2,500 partnerships with other organizations to share experiences and advance their missions, trained more than 200,000 people in new leadership and technical skills, and contributed to the creation of 11,000 new or improved jobs. IAF's development model illustrates that if modest resources and technical support are provided directly to communities and their grassroots organizations so they can define their own needs, design their own solutions, and invest in their own communities, then local ownership, self-reliance, and sustainable development are possible. IAF's small-grants model also enables it to be nimbl… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-the-trump-administration-continuing-to-withhold-aid-from-the-american-people-of-puerto-rico Statement On The The Trump Administration Continuing To Withhold Aid From The American People Of Puerto Rico 2019-12-05 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.05.19 Statement On The The Trump Administration Continuing To Withhold Aid From The American People Of Puerto Rico It has been 810 days since Hurricane Maria destroyed the homes, businesses and lives of countless American citizens of Puerto Rico, and for 810 days President Trump and his administration have been dragging their feet on delivering aid that the island desperately needs. Implementing appropriations passed by Congress and signed into law is not optional. It is not left to the whims of a President who holds a petty political grudge against the American people of Puerto Rico. Today marks 90 days since President Trump and his administration broke the law by failing to comply with a deadline set by Congress to deliver on funds appropriated by Congress to help the island recover. This is not optional. This is not normal. And this is not acceptable. I stand with Chairwoman Lowey and Chairman Price in calling out the administration's egregious and petty treatment of the people of Puerto Rico at their press conference this morning, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure this injustice is stopped. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/wyden-and-leahy-request-ethics-investigation-of-ag-barrs-approval-of-illegal-dea-mass-surveillance-program Wyden And Leahy Request Ethics Investigation Of AG Barr’s Approval Of Illegal DEA Mass Surveillance Program 2019-12-05 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 12.05.19 Wyden And Leahy Request Ethics Investigation Of AG Barr's Approval Of Illegal DEA Mass Surveillance Program . . . Barr Rubber-Stamped The DEA Program, Which Scooped Up Billions Of Phone Records Without Warrants Or Any Legal Analysis WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019) U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Thursday asked for an ethics investigation of Attorney General William Barr's decision to approve an illegal mass surveillance program by the Drug Enforcement Administration in a letter to the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility. Barr approved the DEA program in 1992, during his first stint as attorney general, without conducting any analysis of whether it was legal, according to an Inspector General report released earlier this year. The vast surveillance program swept up billions of phone records over more than 20 years, using subpoenas that were never reviewed by a judge. Mr. Barr's authorization of this sweeping surveillance program without requiring, at minimum, an appropriate legal analysis, was not consistent with his oath to support and defend theConstitution andit likely amounted to professional misconduct, Wyden and Leahy wrote. Attorney General Barr knew, or should have known, that neither statutory law nor federal case law permitted the DEA to sweep up, in bulk, billions of records of Americans' telephone communications.We write to ask that you open an investigation into the authorization of this recently-disclosed illegal, bulk surveillance program that collected billions of records of Americans' telephone calls without conducting any legal analysis of the program. Read the full letter to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility here. Additionally, Wyden and Leahy asked Barr to explain whether current DEA surveillance programs have adequate protections to prevent unlawful spying on Americans, and what changes the agency has made in respon… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-whitehouse-query-doj-about-president-trumps-controversial-war-crimes-pardons Leahy, Whitehouse Query DOJ About President Trump’s Controversial War Crimes Pardons 2019-11-26 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.26.19 Leahy, Whitehouse Query DOJ About President Trump's Controversial War Crimes Pardons . . . Ask What Role The Office Of Pardon Attorney Played In Highly Irregular Decision (TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2019) Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) are asking the Department of Justice's Office of Pardon Attorney what role it played in President Trump's extraordinarily controversial decision to pardon U.S. soldiers charged or convicted with serious war crimes. In light of U.S. military leaders' vocal opposition to President Trump's interventions in these cases, Leahy and Whitehouse are seeking answers about what advice the President received and from whom in making this decision to exercise his clemency powers. The senators wrote: We write to determine what role your office played in President Trump's recent decision to pardon military service members convicted or charged with war crimes. While the President possesses broad pardon powers, these pardons were issued in the face of strong opposition from senior military officials, who warned that such pardons would undermine the U.S. military justice system and shake faith in our military's commitment to abide by the laws of war. Given your office's institutional role and expertise for over 125 years in guiding presidents in the exercise of their pardon powers, we write to inquire whether, and to what extent, your office was involved in these matters. The letter continues: The President's pardon powers are virtually absolute. That is precisely why safeguards must be in place to ensure that they are wielded judiciously institutional safeguards like your office, which exists to ensure that the President's pardon powers are exercised fairly and in the interests of justice. Given our obligation to conduct oversight of the Justice Department, we request written answers to the following questions no later than December 13th. A signed copy of the le… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/whitehouse-leahy-share-new-information-implicating-justice-department-official-in-false-statements Whitehouse, Leahy Share New Information Implicating Justice Department Official In False Statements 2019-11-26 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.26.19 Whitehouse, Leahy Share New Information Implicating Justice Department Official In False Statements Documents Show Former Civil Rights Division Principal Deputy John Gore Appears To Have Violated Department Ethics Rules Gore Submitted An Inaccurate Statement That Forced DOJ To Issue A Correction In Federal Court, Department Acknowledges (TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2019) -- Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) have shared with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility a Justice Department letter correcting statements by John Gore, former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department letter confirms that Gore was not truthful in a sworn declaration in ongoing open records litigation between the Department and a watchdog group. The senators also shared with the Office of Professional Responsibility a memo from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that details new evidence implicating Gore in efforts to create a pretextual justification for attempting to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. In October, Whitehouse and Leahy requested an ethics investigation of Gore after documents surfaced contradicting Gore's sworn declaration. The Department letter the senators shared with the Office of Professional Responsibility acknowledges that Mr. Gore's previous sworn statement describing the nature of his relationship with a Republican Party election official . . . was inaccurate, Whitehouse and Leahy write in a letter transmitting the new information. Documents obtained by the senators through a separate Freedom of Information Act request by the watchdog group American Oversight show Gore taking action as a Department official to pursue allegations of voting irregularities in Chicago brought to his attention by a Republican political operative. Gore went so far as to elevate the allegations to the Trump Wh… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-passes-leahy-bill-to-formalize-national-cybersecurity-preparedness-consortium-with-norwich-university-as-a-key-training-center Senate Passes Leahy Bill To Formalize National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, With Norwich University As A Key Training Center 2019-11-22 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.22.19 Senate Passes Leahy Bill To Formalize National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, With Norwich University As A Key Training Center (FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2019) The U.S. Senate Thursday night passed legislation written and introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) to formally charter a National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC), which includes Norwich University. Norwich University is a key player in NCPC, a cooperative effort of universities with expertise in cybersecurity that work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and carry out training and other activities focused on preparedness among state and local governments and first responders for cyber emergencies. The consortium was privately organized to work annually with DHS to fulfill their mission, with Norwich as a founding member, and the new law will allow DHS and NCPC to work together to develop multi-year plans for improving cyber readiness. Leahy has played a central role for two decades in championing Norwich's emergence as a leader in cybersecurity training. In the wake of 9/11, Leahy, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced and secured enactment of legislation that designated Norwich as a one of the National Centers for Counter-Terrorism and Cyber-Crime, with ongoing federal funding and support. That expertise was critical to establishing the NCPC. Leahy said: Norwich University has methodically built expertise and national recognition as a national center in the crucial field of cybersecurity training to counter these growing threats. Passage of our bill is a bipartisan victory in advancing these efforts to the next levels. I support the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium because we know that cyber threats become more manageable when state and local responders have quality training. Norwich will continue to take a leading role in making that happen. In addition to Norwich, other universities in the consortium are the University o… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-lofgren-harris-and-booker-lead-bicameral-refugee-protection-act-of-2019 Leahy, Lofgren, Harris And Booker Lead Bicameral Refugee Protection Act of 2019 2019-11-21 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.21.19 Leahy, Lofgren, Harris And Booker Lead Bicameral Refugee Protection Act of 2019 WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2019) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA 19), Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Thursday led the bicameral introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2019. Building upon previous versions of the Refugee Protection Act introduced by Leahy and Lofgren, the Refugee Protection Act of 2019 is a comprehensive blueprint for restoring and reinvigorating U.S. refugee and asylum systems in response to the Trump administration's attempts to shut the nation's doors to refugees and asylum seekers. As the world faces the worst refugee crisis in recorded history, the United States should be embracing our role as the humanitarian leader of the world not retreating from it, as the Trump administration has shamefully done, Leahy said. In doing so, the Trump administration has abandoned decades of bipartisan support for our refugee admissions program as a bulwark of our national security and foreign policy interests. The Refugee Protection Act of 2019 lays out a vision for how America should be responding to this worldwide refugee crisis a vision that reflects who we are and have always been: a welcoming refuge for the persecuted and the oppressed. Today, there are more refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally-displaced persons than at any time since World War II, and ongoing conflicts in Syria, Venezuela and Burkina Faso, among others, keep adding to this growing crisis, said Rep. Lofgren. "The United States has long been a global leader in offering safety and protection to victims of terror, abuse, and brutal regimes, and we must continue that American tradition. The Refugee Protection Act provides long-needed fixes to our nation's refugee and asylum programs and ensures America continues to lead by example in assisting the world's most vulnerable people. The United States must always be a place where refugees are welcomed and… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-honduras Statement On Honduras 2019-11-21 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.21.19 Statement On Honduras Congressional Record Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have spoken previously about the alarming rates of corruption, violent crime, and impunity in Honduras. While Honduras is by no means unique in this regard, it is a serious concern given the challenges it poses not only for the people of Honduras but also for the United States. Every week, my office receives word of another assassination in Honduras of a social leader, environmental activist, indigenous rights activist, journalist, or trade unionist. Rarely does a week go by that we do not hear about threats against these individuals. Rarely does a week go by that we do not receive reports of arbitrary and prolonged imprisonment of critics of government policies or practices. While the murder of Berta Caceres on March 3, 2016, captured the world's attention, that outrageous crime was but one of many targeted killings of Hondurans who have dared to protest against corruption, infrastructure development that threatens their land, water, farms and communities, excessive force by the military and police, and the lack of access to justice. These types of crimes are nothing new in Honduras, in fact they are shockingly common. But they have noticeably increased in frequency since the conviction in a New York federal court on October 18 of Tony Hernandez, a notorious drug kingpin and the brother of President Juan Orlando Hernandez who was named as an unindicted co-conspirator. It begs credulity that President Hernandez was completely unaware of the actions of his brother, or of the reported use of profits from drug trafficking to finance his political campaign. Honduras, which was already among the most corrupt and dangerous countries in the world for those who have dared to challenge the dominance of a tiny elite who continue to wield unbridled control over the political and economic levers of the country, has become even more corrupt and d… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-israeli-settlements Statement On Israeli Settlements 2019-11-21 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.21.19 Statement On Israeli Settlements Congressional Record Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I vividly recall the feeling of optimism that people in this country and around the world felt on that day in Washington in 1993 when Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and PLO Chairman Arafat signed the Oslo Accords. For those too young to remember, the Oslo process began as secret negotiations in Oslo, resulting in the recognition by the PLO of the State of Israel and the recognition by Israel of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people for the purpose of direct negotiations between the two parties. The Oslo Accords marked the formal start of that process, which aimed at achieving a peace treaty based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and at fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The negotiations were to focus on resolving the key issues in dispute: Israeli settlements, the status of Jerusalem, Israel's military presence in and control over remaining territories after Israel's recognition of Palestinian autonomy, and the return of Palestinian refugees. It was hoped and believed that the signing of the Oslo Accords was the beginning of the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and of a process that would culminate in a two-state solution with secure borders for both Israel and a new Palestinian state. Since then, virtually nothing has occurred as envisioned. Prime Minister Rabin, a visionary leader who I knew and greatly respected, was assassinated by a Jewish extremist. Over the years, time after time, the hopes and aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians have been dashed. Israelis have suffered countless deadly attacks by Hamas and by other Palestinian extremists. The Palestinians have suffered countless humiliations and assassinations. But despite the many setbacks, missed opportunities, and failures of leadership on both sides, I have never felt that the Osl… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-one-month-continuing-resolution Statement On The One-Month Continuing Resolution 2019-11-21 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.21.19 Statement On The One-Month Continuing Resolution Today, we have before us a continuing resolution to fully fund the federal government through December 20. While I wish this step was not necessary, I urge all members to vote AYE. I am disappointed we have to pass a second continuing resolution. I wish we were further along with our work. It is not for a lack of trying. It is no secret what is holding up negotiationsthe President's demand for $8.6 billion more for his vanity wall along the southern border. Despite the fact that he already has $10 billion on hand for his wall, $6.3 billion of which he stole from our troops and their families, and despite the fact that the vast majority of that money has yet to be spent, he wants more. Absent this issue I am certain we would have completed our work. It is dj vu all over againthe President is once again putting his own personal interests ahead of the interests of our country. I want to remind this chamber what is at stake in the annual appropriations billseducation for our children, cutting-edge medical research, workforce development, investments in infrastructure, support for our nation's farmers, medical care for our veterans, addressing the opioid crisis and environmental programs to keep our air safe to breathe and our water safe to drink. All are being held up, all are being put on autopilot, because the President cares about his wall above all. So we find ourselves at a critical juncture. Pass another continuing resolution to allow us to continue to negotiate in good faith, which I am committed to doing, or shut the government down. That is really no choice at all. The continuing resolution before us is a good bill that will allow us to continue our bipartisan and bicameral negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations process, and I urge all Senators to support it. In addition to continuing to fund our government for four more weeks, this bill tackles some issues that must be addressed without delay. It provides the Commerce De… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-passing-of-jake-burton-carpenter Statement On The Passing Of Jake Burton Carpenter 2019-11-21 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.21.19 Statement On The Passing Of Jake Burton Carpenter Marcelle and I join all Vermonters in mourning the loss of Jake Burton Carpenter. Hanging in my office is one of the early, wooden Burton Boards that are now so iconic to the sport. Marcelle and I will keep it there as a reminder of Jake's generosity to his employees and his community, which was exemplified by the annual, open celebration he and Donna threw at their own home. It will stand as a reminder of his fierce dedication to address the emerging crisis of climate change and not only what it meant to the future of sport he held so dear, but to his children's futures. And it will stand as the reminder of his friendship and his enduring love for our state. Jake valued community, and I know that legacy will carry on in all those who called him a friend, a mentor, a husband and a father. He was a visionary, and Marcelle and I will miss him dearly. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-collins-yarmuth-bacon-and-others-reintroduce-bipartisan-and-bicameral-bill-to-help-runaway-and-homeless-youth Leahy, Collins, Yarmuth, Bacon And Others Reintroduce Bipartisan And Bicameral Bill To Help Runaway And Homeless Youth 2019-11-20 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.20.19 Leahy, Collins, Yarmuth, Bacon And Others Reintroduce Bipartisan And Bicameral Bill To Help Runaway And Homeless Youth WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Nov. 20, 2019) Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Representatives John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.),and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) Wendesday reintroduced the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. The legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with grants to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide. The landmark Runaway and Homeless Youth Act was first passed by Congress in 1974, providing nationwide support to address youth and young adult homelessness. This reauthorization would expand protections to youths who are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, and it would authorize funding for state and local programs to help provide transitional housing, street outreach, and crisis intervention programs to address the needs of homeless and runaway youth. It would also raise the authorization of appropriations to $225 million and double the minimum grant allocation provided to small states, from $100,000, to $200,000. Leahy said:No child in America should have to call the street home. Our bill will offer service providers the training and tools they need to best serve young people, to help ensure that they don't fall victim to human trafficking, and to keep them safe. These are often lifesaving programs, rescuing young lives and giving them crucial lifelines. Our legislation will allow communities in Vermont and across the country to expand their enormously important work. An estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness at some point in a year. As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I have made it my goal to address homelessness. We must make sure our nation's homeless youth have the same opportunity to succeed as other youth, said Senator Collins. The programs reauthorized by this b… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-united-states-and-cuba Statement On The United States And Cuba 2019-11-20 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.20.19 Statement On The United States And Cuba Congressional Record Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, since the onset of the Trump presidency, the White House has issued a steady stream of executive orders to reverse the policy of engagement with Cuba begun by President Obama. Those decisions have largely curtailed travel by law abiding Americans to Cuba who seek to participate in people-to-people exchanges, patronize Cuban private businesses, and otherwise experience Cuban culture. Cuba is the only country in the world to which Americans cannot travel freely, other than North Korea, because President Trump apparently believes it is his sole prerogative to tell Americans where they can travel and spend their own money. I have spoken about the need for engagement with Cuba many times. It is in our national interest because our past policy of unilateral sanctions and isolation enforced for more than half a century failed to achieve any of its objectives, and because engagement with the people of other countries is the way we promote our values and protect our interests. This is especially true when the foreign government is one with which we have profound disagreements, like Russia, China, Egypt, Turkey it is a long list. But no one is proposing that we prevent Americans from traveling to those countries, and if they did it would be strongly opposed by Republicans and Democrats alike. Today, our Embassy in Havana is operating on a shoestring. Whereas there used to be more than 50 direct hire staff, today there are fewer than 18. The Cuban Embassy in Washington has also been reduced to a shell of what it used to be. As a result, the ability of both governments to process visas and conduct diplomacy is at a virtual standstill. Cubans who seek visas to travel to the U.S. today to participate in educational programs, cultural, entrepreneurial, or scientific exchanges have to travel to Trinidad, Mexico, or some other c… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-joins-105-house-colleagues-demanding-major-league-baseball-back Welch Joins 105 House Colleagues in Demanding Major League Baseball Back Off Its Proposal That Could Shutter 42 Minor League Teams, Including Vermont Lake Monsters 2019-11-19 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch today joined a bipartisan group of 105 House colleagues in sending a letter to the commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB) demanding that he abandon a proposal that could lead to the elimination of 42 minor league baseball teams, including the Vermont Lake Monsters. The proposal surfaced in negotiations between MLB and Minor League Baseball over renewal of their contract that expires September 15, 2020. Minor league baseball teams like Vermont's beloved Lake Monsters are part of the fabric of communities across the country, said Welch. They provide affordable, family friendly entertainment and help drive local economies. It would be a grave mistake for MLB to follow through on this proposal. Doing so would deal a devastating blow to the livelihood of their supportive communities. I hope this is a negotiating ploy as both sides enter into negotiations over a new contract. Should the MLB follow through, I intend to work with House colleagues from across the country to take a close look at the statutory advantages afforded the league by Congress over the years, including its lucrative anti-trust exemption. In the letter sent today, the legislators wrote to the commissioner, You are the most important steward of the great game of baseball and tasked with ensuring the popularity and love of it across the world. Reducing the number of Minor League Baseball clubs and overhauling a century-old system that has been consistently safeguarded by Congress is not in the best interest of the overall game of baseball, especially when Major League Baseball's revenues are at all-time highs. According to an October 18, 2019 report in Baseball America, 25 percent of Minor League teams may lose their Player Development Contract (PDC) for the 2021 season and beyond. The following list of teams are being targeted for elimination by MLB: Lancaster JetHawks (CA), Grand Junction Rockies (CO), Rocky Mountain Vibes (CO), Connecticut Tigers (CT), Daytona Tortugas (FL), Florida Fire Frogs (FL), Idaho Falls Chu… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-leahy-on-ocean-plastic-pollution Statement Of Senator Leahy On Ocean Plastic Pollution 2019-11-19 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.19.19 Statement Of Senator Leahy On Ocean Plastic Pollution Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the world's oceans serve as a crucial carbon sink, a home to hundreds of thousands of known and countless unknown species of marine life, an essential source of protein for billions of people, and a facilitator of billions of dollars in tourism, fishing, shipping, and other economic activity. Today, the oceans, on which life on Earth depends, are under serious threat. Threats from climate change, habitat destruction, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and pollution plastic waste pollution in particular are accelerating and causing potentially irreparable harm to this planet. I spoke recently on the significant health, environmental, and economic impacts of the more than 300 billion pounds of plastic waste circulating in the oceans, and on funding in the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to strengthen U.S. efforts to address this pollution. Today I will further discuss the scale of the problem and actions that governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private companies, and other stakeholders can take to address this challenge. I want to share a few findings and recommendations from a report recently published by Ocean Conservancy and the Trash Free Seas Alliance, a global group of companies and NGOs seeking to reduce and reinvent products and services that contribute to ocean pollution. Absent collective action, the report depicts a bleak future one involving more than 550 billion pounds of plastic waste in the oceans by 2025, clogging our rivers and waterways, threatening marine life and seabirds, endangering human health, contaminating the food supply, and triggering a significant decline in economic benefits. For perspective, the amount of plastic entering the oceans each year is equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute of every hour of every day. That is 1,440 truckloads of … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senate-appropriations-committee-vice-chairman-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-the-introduction-of-a-one-month-continuing-resolution Statement of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Introduction Of A One-Month Continuing Resolution 2019-11-18 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.18.19 Statement of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Introduction Of A One-Month Continuing Resolution Today, Chairwoman Lowey introduced a continuing resolution to fully fund the federal government through December 20. This is a welcome development and will allow us to continue our bipartisan and bicameral negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations process. Importantly, this continuing resolution provides the Commerce Department with the necessary funds to carry out the decennial census, provides funds for mobile centers to ensure the census reaches those in the hardest to reach areas, and fulfills our Constitutional obligation to make sure that every American is counted. Specifically, it allows the Commerce Department to spend at a rate of operations that assumes $7.3 billion for the Decennial Census in Fiscal Year 2020, the same amount provided for in the Senate-passed Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. This is a necessary step forward. I strongly urge the Senate to take up and pass this bill as soon as possible. I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Shelby, Chairwoman Lowey, and Ranking Member Granger on a path forward. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/members-northern-new-england-congressional-delegations-call-customs-and Members of Northern New England Congressional Delegations Call on Customs and Border Patrol to Disclose Criteria & Effectiveness of Highway Checkpoints 2019-11-14 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy (Washington, DC) Yesterday, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sent a letter to the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) with Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH1), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH2), Peter Welch (D-VT At-Large) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME1), calling on the agency to provide information on the use of temporary highway checkpoints in northern New England over the past year. In the letter addressed to Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan, the group questioned whether the lack of arrests stemming from the random stops of vehicles on local highways warranted the harmful economic impact and inconvenience to travelers in the region. The members cited an instance on I-93 near Woodstock, New Hampshire during Laconia Motorcycle Week, which did not result in any arrests but caused significant traffic delays in the region, as well as similar occurrences in Lebanon, New Hampshire and in South Hero, Vermont. Their letter states, Ensuring that we maintain effective security along our Northern border is a top priority, and we continue to work to secure needed investments in border security operations and technology. We also recognize the difficult job CBP personnel face in enforcing our nation's immigration laws, which are in desperate need of reform. Given our current challenges, our border protection resources must be used strategically and effectively. We have a number of questions regarding the agency's policies and processes for the implementation of these activities, with a particular focus on temporary highway checkpoints and the consideration of community and economic impact. The delegation closed their letter with a series of questions for CBP to respond to and detail justification for the checkpoints. The full text of the letter is available here. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-welch-sen-udall-introduce-legislation-reform-renewable-fuel-standard Rep. Welch, Sen. Udall Introduce Legislation to Reform the Renewable Fuel Standard to Benefit the Environment 2019-11-14 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced companion bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by mitigating harmful environmental impacts of the corn ethanol mandate and advancing the next generation of biofuels that actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The GREENER Fuels Act (Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act) would: First, phase out the corn ethanol mandate and immediately reduce the amount of ethanol in fuel by as much as 1 billion gallons by capping the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 9.7 percent. After thirteen years of increasing mandates, corn ethanol is now a mature technology, but one that has contributed to habitat loss and greater water pollution from pesticides and fertilizers. Second, help farmers return cornfields to pasture and wildlife habitat through a 10 cents per RIN fee to fund a new Private Land Protection and Restoration Fund in the U.S. Treasury. The fund will help pay for Department of Interior programs that: -pay for easements on private lands to keep them out of agricultural production; -keep the lands in conservation uses like grass, forest, stream buffers, or pollinator habitat and; -help farmers transition land currently in crop production into other uses. Third, extend the cellulosic and advanced next generation biofuel mandate until 2 billion gallons of annual production is achieved or 2037, whichever is soonest, and improve the way the mandate is implemented to produce liquid transportation fuels that dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Despite its early promise, the RFS has been a well-intentioned flop that is harming our environment by contributing to the conversion of millions of acres of grasslands, wetlands and forests into crop production while failing to bring about the widespread use of truly sustainable fuels like cellulosic," said Welch. "Our commonsense legislatio… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/members-of-northern-new-england-congressional-delegations-call-on-customs-and-border-patrol-to-disclose-criteria-and-effectiveness-of-highway-checkpoints Members Of Northern New England Congressional Delegations Call On Customs And Border Patrol To Disclose Criteria & Effectiveness Of Highway Checkpoints 2019-11-14 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.14.19 Members Of Northern New England Congressional Delegations Call On Customs And Border Patrol To Disclose Criteria & Effectiveness Of Highway Checkpoints (Washington, DC) Yesterday, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sent a letter to the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) with Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH1), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH2), Peter Welch (D-VT At-Large) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME1), calling on the agency to provide information on the use of temporary highway checkpoints in northern New England over the past year. In the letter addressed to Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan, the group questioned whether the lack of arrests stemming from the random stops of vehicles on local highways warranted the harmful economic impact and inconvenience to travelers in the region. The members cited an instance on I-93 near Woodstock, New Hampshire during Laconia Motorcycle Week, which did not result in any arrests but caused significant traffic delays in the region, as well as similar occurrences in Lebanon, New Hampshire and in South Hero, Vermont. Their letter states, Ensuring that we maintain effective security along our Northern border is a top priority, and we continue to work to secure needed investments in border security operations and technology. We also recognize the difficult job CBP personnel face in enforcing our nation's immigration laws, which are in desperate need of reform. Given our current challenges, our border protection resources must be used strategically and effectively. We have a number of questions regarding the agency's policies and processes for the implementation of these activities, with a particular focus on temporary highway checkpoints and the consideration of community and economic impact. The delegation closed their letter with a series of questions for CBP to respond to and detail justification for the checkpoints. The full text of the letter is available here. ### Press Contact … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-reducing-pandemic-risk Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Reducing Pandemic Risk 2019-11-14 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.14.19 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Reducing Pandemic Risk Congressional Record Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we do not have to be reminded of the more than 50 million lives lost in the 1918 influenza pandemic, or the many thousands lost in the SARS, Ebola, MERS, and other recent infectious disease outbreaks to recognize that far more must be done to reduce the risk of catastrophic pandemics. Rather than waiting until disease outbreaks occur, then scrambling at great expense for two or three years or however long it takes to develop a vaccine while countless people die, we need to act proactively. It is worth noting that tens of millions of people have died and we still lack a vaccine against HIV. Viral threats will continue to emerge at a rapidly accelerating pace in response to expanding global populations in the least developed countries, international travel, and human encroachment into wildlife habitat. And we know that the vast majority of emerging viruses, like HIV, are zoonotic infectious diseases that can spread between animals and humans. In an effort to strengthen global capacity for detection and discovery of zoonotic viruses, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiated the PREDICT project in 2009. Its goal was to identify new emerging viruses with pandemic potential and improve predictive modeling to better focus surveillance, data collection, and analytics to reduce the risk of animal viruses spilling over and spreading in human populations. Through the collection and analysis of wildlife samples in areas of the world most at risk for zoonotic disease, PREDICT was able to discover disease pathogens at their source, rather than waiting for human infection. Over the past decade and through its work in more than 30 countries, PREDICT has identified hundreds of viruses and has estimated that there are more than 1.6 million unknown viral disease species in mammalian and av… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vermont-delegation-condemns-trumps-cuts-refugee-admissions Vermont Delegation Condemns Trump's Cuts to Refugee Admissions 2019-11-13 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, November 13 In response to President Trump's recent cut in refugee admissions, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Peter Welch issued the following statement: "President Trump's recent approval of a 18,000 limit on refugee admissions the lowest admissions ceiling in our country's history is a shameful abdication of our role in providing refuge to those fleeing extreme violence and poverty around the world. "The timing could not be worse. According to the United Nations, more than 70 million people worldwide have been displaced from their homes due to persecution and conflict, including almost 30 million refugees. This is a global humanitarian crisis of an unprecedented scale, and the United States must do its part to address it. "Welcoming refugees to this country and to Vermont is not only the right thing to do, but it also benefits our communities in many ways. For centuries, immigrants and refugees have made significant contributions to our culture and economy and helped us become the country and state we are today. And here in Vermont, refugees are essential to growing our workforce. At a time when our state's population is aging and declining, employers increasingly rely on the New American community to address labor shortages and help their businesses expand. "We stand united in our support of the refugee resettlement program and call on the Trump Administration to significantly increase refugee admissions. Refugees come to the U.S. for the same things we all want: safety, freedom, and opportunity. If we turn our backs on refugees, we abandon the very identity of our country as a refuge for the persecuted and oppressed." ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-feinstein-and-other-senators-introduce-house-passed-violence-against-women-act Leahy, Feinstein, And Other Senators Introduce House-Passed Violence Against Women Act 2019-11-13 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.13.19 Leahy, Feinstein, And Other Senators Introduce House-Passed Violence Against Women Act . . . They Call On Majority Leader McConnell To Rescue VAWA From His Legislative Graveyard' WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and others on Wednesday led all 47 Democratic senators in introducing the Senate companion to the House-passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. They called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring VAWA renewal legislation to the Senate Floor. The bill, whose chief sponsor is Feinstein, would reauthorize VAWA through 2024, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations and includes a number of additional improvements to the current law. Leahy was the author and chief sponsor of the last VAWA reauthorization bill that he steered through the Judiciary Committee and the Senate in 2013, and which now has expired. He also led the successful effort to convince House Republican leaders to allow a vote on Leahy's stronger version, compared to a weaker Republican version. Leahy's 2013 law had strengthened VAWA and its grant programs by expanding protections for particularly vulnerable communities, as well as renewing the landmark legislation. The programs authorized under VAWA are used throughout Vermont in addressing domestic violence and other issues. In a news conference in the Capitol, Leahy recounted his experiences as a prosecutor in Vermont in encountering domestic violence and other crimes. Leahy said: Before the Senate came together six years ago to pass the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, many skeptics had called for a watered down VAWA bill to make it easier to pass. We instead chose to stand by the survivors and victim services professionals who called for legislation that would protect all victims, regardless of their immigration status, … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-supreme-court-argument-to-decide-future-of-americas-dreamers Statement On The Supreme Court Argument To Decide Future Of America's Dreamers 2019-11-12 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.12.19 Statement On The Supreme Court Argument To Decide Future Of America's Dreamers Congressional Record Today the Supreme Court heard arguments in one of the most consequential immigration cases in modern American history. The future of more than 700,000 DACA recipients our nation's Dreamers hangs in the balance. And their fate is inherently intertwined with the fate of the American Dream itself. Dreamers, by definition, are law-abiding immigrants brought to the United States as children through no choice of their own now simply seeking the chance to contribute to the only country they have ever known as home. Dreamers, by definition, do not pose any kind of public safety or national security threat. They are our neighbors, our first responders, our defenders, and our teachers. Nearly a thousand Dreamers serve in our armed forces, risking their lives to preserve the freedoms of millions of American citizens. Dreamers are Americans in every way, except on paper. Americans know this, and have roundly rejected the baseless, un-American vitriol spread by President Trump yet again this morning, just hours before the argument that some Dreamers are hardened criminals. So it is no wonder that the overwhelming majority of Americans support providing legal protections to our nation's Dreamers. And it is no surprise that leaders of industry in every major sector of our economy have called for providing legal status and a path to citizenship for Dreamers, recognizing their enormous contributions to our economy. The depth of opposition to President Trump's decision to heartlessly terminate DACA is matched only by the breadth of agreement among courts that the Trump administration is just plain wrong on the law. Five out of six federal courts that considered the Trump administration's effort to end DACA blocked President Trump from actually doing so. And they have rejected the Trump administration's laughable arg… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-grassley-reintroduce-patents-for-humanity-act Leahy And Grassley Reintroduce Patents For Humanity Act 2019-11-07 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.07.19 Leahy And Grassley Reintroduce Patents For Humanity Act . . . Bill Would Codify Program That Encourages And Rewards Use Of Patented Technology To Tackle Humanitarian Needs WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 2019) Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday reintroduced the Patents for Humanity Act of 2019. Their bipartisan bill encourages and rewards the use of patented technology to address humanitarian needs. Patents for Humanity is the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) awards competition which recognizes innovators who use game-changing technology to meet global humanitarian challenges. Winners of the program receive a certificate to accelerate certain processes at the USPTO; for example, accelerated review of another application or reexamination request. This legislation would codify the program and allow winners to transfer these certificates to a third party, which the USPTO and small start-up companies have said will help this vital program grow and even attract small inventors who might not use the certificates themselves. The Patents for Humanity program has already made a critical difference across the world. Winners have worked to improve nutrition, provide clean drinking water, fix broken bones in remote hospitals that lack x-ray technology, bring solar-powered energy to villages that are off the power grid, and combat the problem of dangerous counterfeit drugs, among other achievements. Leahy and Grassley introduced similar legislation last Congress, and in the 114th Congress the bill passed the Senate unanimously. Leahy said: The Patents for Humanity Program illuminates our commitment to be the example for the world in intellectual property. This program incentivizes creators to address some of our most pressing global needs. This is a commonsense bipartisan bill, and I'm hopeful it will pass in this Congress. Grassley said: American innovators a… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/remarks-on-opposing-steven-menashi-nominee-to-be-us-circuit-judge-for-the-second-circuit Remarks on Opposing Steven Menashi Nominee to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit 2019-11-07 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.07.19 Remarks on Opposing Steven Menashi Nominee to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit Whether senators on this Committee agree that a nominee is extreme or within the mainstream, whether a nominee is well-qualified or woefully unprepared for a lifetime judgeship, I think we all agree that every nominee should be willing to answer our most basic questions. If a nominee refuses, and that nominee is nonetheless rewarded with confirmation, our constitutional role to provide advice and consent to is rendered meaningless. Steven Menashi failed this test. And he failed it repeatedly. Whether facing questions from Democrats or Republicans, Mr. Menashi declined to answer, over and over again. It got so bad that more than one Republican on this Committee expressed their frustration. And one Republican member, Senator Kennedy, even called for a second hearing so we could actually get our questions answered. After his hearing, Mr. Menashi then failed to answer basic questions about whether he was involved while working in the White House Counsel's Office in attempting to cover up President Trump's July 25th phone call with the President of Ukraine. He did not cite a privilege. He did not even provide the courtesy of responding. He just refused to answer. I have my own concerns about Mr. Menashi's record. Just last night, it was revealed that he devised an illegal Department of Education plan to deny debt relief to thousands of students scammed by a defunct for-profit university a plan that a judge found to violate the Privacy Act. And he still hasn't provided a sufficient explanation for an offensive argument he made in an article, that [QUOTE] ethnic diversity weakens social solidarity [UNQUOTE]. Those are his words. And I must say I find them in stark contrast to the words emblazoned on our Capitol's dome: E Pluribus Unum. Out of Many, One. At a minimum, I do not think any senator should vote for a nominee who repeatedly refuses to answer our questions. There is no nominations Fifth Amendm… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/sens-tillis-and-leahy-and-reps-roby-and-jeffries-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-supporting-art-students Sens. Tillis And Leahy And Reps. Roby And Jeffries Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Supporting Art Students 2019-11-07 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.07.19 Sens. Tillis And Leahy And Reps. Roby And Jeffries Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Supporting Art Students WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Representatives Martha Roby (R-AL-2) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that directs the Register of Copyrights to waive the copyright registration fee for winners of the Congressional Art Competition and the Congressional App Competition. Currently, the Register of Copyrights, Karen Temple, does not have the authority to waive the registration fee. Both of these competitions, sponsored and led by the House of Representatives, encourage talented students to engage in the arts and coding. These students are recognized by each district and for the winners of the Congressional Art Competition, their work is displayed in the tunnel between the House office buildings. Each year talented students are recognized through the Congressional Art Competition and the Congressional App Competition. These students are the future of America's creative economy and are the exact people we should be introducing to the benefits of copyright protection, said Senator Thom Tillis. Over the last few months I have had ongoing conversations with today's leaders in the copyright industry about what Congress needs to do to incentive copyright registration. Introducing these talented students to the benefits of copyright protection is an excellent place to start, and I look forward to seeing what these talented students come up with next. Every year students from across the country submit original artwork and apps for Congressional Competitions, said Senator Patrick Leahy.These students are the next generation of creators, and this bill eliminates the cost barrier that comes with protecting original work. Our country is full of brilliant, young creators who are the rising generation of America's creative industry, said Representative Martha Roby. The Artistic Recognition for Talented… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/harris-and-leahy-lead-judiciary-democrats-urging-briefing-following-president-trumps-alarming-fy2020-refugee-presidential-determination Harris And Leahy Lead Judiciary Democrats Urging Briefing Following President Trump’s Alarming FY2020 Refugee Presidential Determination 2019-11-06 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.06.19 Harris And Leahy Lead Judiciary Democrats Urging Briefing Following President Trump's Alarming FY2020 Refugee Presidential Determination . . . Senators Urge Further Consultation With Congress To Avoid Permanently Damaging U.S. Refugee Admissions Program WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Nov. 6, 2019) Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday led all Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan, in which they urgently request a briefing to understand the potentially devastating consequences of President Trump's Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2020 the lowest refugee admissions cap in the history of the United States Refugee Admissions Program. The Senators wrote: We write to urgently request a briefing about the Trump administration's recently announced Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2020. In addition to establishing the lowest refugee admissions goal in the history of the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the Trump administration is pursuing modifications to the refugee resettlement process that could effectivelyand perhaps intentionallydamage our long-term capacity to resettle refugees in the United States. Given vocal, bipartisan warnings about the dire consequences of the Trump administration's FY 2020 plans for USRAP, we, as members of the Senate committee of jurisdiction over refugee and immigration policy, request an in-person briefing to address our most serious concerns, outlined in this letter. The Senators continued: The Trump administration's sweeping, structural changes to our refugee admissions and resettlement process merit thorough deliberations between Congress and the Executive Branchmore than just a single meeting that checks the consultation box. Therefore, we request an i… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-hearing-of-the-senate-judiciary-committee-on-reauthorizing-the-usa-freedom-act-of-2015 Statement On Hearing Of The Senate Judiciary Committee On “Reauthorizing the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015" 2019-11-06 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.06.19 Statement On Hearing Of The Senate Judiciary Committee On Reauthorizing the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015" This is an important hearingand I amgrateful that Chairman Graham agreed tomy andSenator Lee's request tohold it. I remain proud of our successful effortsin 2015to pass the USA FREEDOM Act. This lawwasthe first major overhaul of government surveillance powers in decades. It addedsignificant privacy protections for the American people.Now we have the opportunity to assess, learn from, and respond to what has happened over the past four years. So what have we learned? We know that thegovernment issued only 14 CDR program orders in 2018, and yet collected over 434 million records relating to over 19 million phone numbers. We know ofat least two incidents ofsignificant over-collection, resulting in the NSA purging allof their recordsand ultimately decommissioning the program. And we know that then-DNI Director Dan Coats acknowledged, even as he requested a permanent reauthorization of all of the authorities granted in USA FREEDOM, that theCDRprogram's relative intelligence valuewasnegligible. Given all that, what DON'T we know? Unfortunately,quite a bit. We are only a month away from these authorities expiring and we don't know what caused the massive over-collection, what companies were responsible, orwhy it was not feasible for theNSA to identify or isolate the improperly produced data. It is not as though Senator Lee and I have not tried to learn the answers to these questions.Almost a year ago, in December 2018, Senator Lee and I wrotealetter to the DNI and Justice Department asking these and other questions. After failing to receive a response, we wrote againin July. Unfortunately, we never received a substantive response toeither of theseletters. Despite this, the government is nowrequesting the permanent reauthorization ofallof the authorities granted in USA FREEDOM, including the CDR program, arguingthat it might eventually be useful and technology might evolve to the point they coul… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-legislation-introduced-protect-access-medical-ventilators Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Protect Access to Medical Ventilators 2019-11-04 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy Monday, November 4, 2019 U.S. Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), John Larson (D-CT), and Darren Soto (D-FL) have introduced the Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy (SMART) Act of 2019. This legislation will delay the inclusion of medical ventilators from competitive acquisition programs under Medicare for a period of five years. Medical ventilators are life-sustaining devices. Patients depending on them can often remain in their homes, but only if providers are able to travel to them. This becomes more difficult in rural or isolated areas, such as parts of Virginia's Ninth Congressional District, and introducing competitive bidding would likely be an unsustainable burden to providers in these areas. The SMART Act would prevent such difficulties. I am pleased to stand with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in support of our constituents who rely on ventilators, said Representative Griffith. Non-invasive ventilators improve patient outcomes and allow patients to be at home surrounded by family, said Representative Welch.Recent decisions by CMS threaten to make it harder for patients in rural and underserved areas to access this critical equipment. This bill would make sure that all patients can benefit from this technology, no matter where they live. This legislation is about making sure that bureaucratic changes don't jeopardize the health of medically fragile patients who rely on ventilators, such as many living with ALS. We want to be sure that these patients, who are already grappling with complex medical issues, don't experience delays accessing care, as lapses could prove fatal. I will continue to fight to ensure all Medicare patients receive access to the life-saving care they need, said Representative Bilirakis. This legislation is vital to ensuring patients, especially those with ALS, have access to ventilators and are able to maintain their quality of life. I'm proud to introduce this legislation with Congressman Griffith, said Repre… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/isakson-blumenthal-leahy-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-40th-anniversary-of-iran-hostage-crisis Isakson, Blumenthal, Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing 40th Anniversary of Iran Hostage Crisis 2019-11-04 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.04.19 Isakson, Blumenthal, Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing 40th Anniversary of Iran Hostage Crisis ATLANTA In advance of the 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing today, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, as a national day of remembrance. The victims of the Iran hostage crisis were treated brutally, and their suffering and sacrifice should be remembered, said Isakson. Similarly, this resolution and our continued efforts on behalf of the victims are an important statement that once an American serves our country, we will be there for you no matter how long it takes to secure justice. On the anniversary of their capture, we pay tribute to these brave Americans who were held hostage in Iran during service to the United States. For 444 days, victims of the Iran hostage crisis suffered unspeakable horror and fear as they waited to be freed. Then they fought for more than three decades after that to receive the restitution they deserve, said Blumenthal. This bipartisan resolution honors the bravery and tenacity this group showed, first in service to our country, and then in their relentless pursuit for justice. For many victims of the Iran hostage crisis and their families, 40 years has done little to ease the pain and trauma caused by those events, said Leahy. On this anniversary, we must remember the grave injustices these victims suffered as a result of serving our country, and recommit ourselves to providing them with some measure of justice. We also must not forget the plight of Americans who have been taken hostage and tortured by Iran since the Iran hostage crisis, all of whom deserve the unwavering support of the United States government. On Nov. 4, 1979, 66 United States diplomats, military personnel, and civilians were taken hostage from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. By Nov. 20, 1979, 13 hostag… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-president-trumps-withdrawal-from-the-paris-climate-agreement Statement On President Trump’s Withdrawal From The Paris Climate Agreement 2019-11-04 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.04.19 Statement On President Trump's Withdrawal From The Paris Climate Agreement Today, President Trump formally notified the United Nations that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change an agreement that the United States played an instrumental role in negotiating. This decision is nothing more than the fulfillment of a cynical and reckless campaign promise made for the sole purpose of currying favor with the fossil fuel industry. It comes in the wake of the latest National Climate Assessment, by our country's top scientists, which was unequivocal: Climate change already affects every sector and region of our country, threatening millions of Americans' health, homes and livelihoods. This July was the warmest month in history. The last five years were the warmest years ever recorded. The United States alone has reportedly experienced more than $400 billion in weather and climate disaster costs since 2014. Rising seas, increased storm surge, and tidal flooding threaten $1 trillion in coastal infrastructure and property. Let's not forget that in 2017, President Trump claimed that he would make a better climate deal. The truth is the opposite. The only thing he has done is roll back environmental protections put in place by his predecessors. The United States is on course to be the only country in the world that is not a party to the Paris Agreement. President Trump has long asserted, whether he actually believes it or not, that Paris is some nefarious globalist plot to harm American competitiveness and empower countries like China and India, which are parties to the Paris Agreement. In fact, leaving the agreement will harm the U.S. economy as our country retreats from a global technology market that is expected to value in the tens of trillions of dollars. This decision also empowers China, because the agreement is actually designed to hold it accountable for its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. History will remember this foolhardy and infamous … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-international-day-to-end-impunity-for-crimes-against-journalists Statement on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2019-11-02 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.02.19 Statement on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists Nearly one year ago, speaking about the dangers facing journalists who are harassed, threatened, and killed for simply doing their job, I said I was more concerned than ever before about the state of press freedom around the world, including in our own country. You can read that statement here. As we commemorate International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2nd, while reflecting on the hundreds of journalists who have been killed in retaliation for their work, I feel the same way today. In 2019 alone, the Committee to Protect Journalists has recorded 35 cases of journalists killed by crossfire, murdered for their reporting, or whose deaths very well may be, though have not yet been officially, linked to their work. Impunity for these murders, including high profile executions of journalists like Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi authorities last year, remains the status quo in most countries. Roughly nine of every ten killings of journalists go unpunished each year. As the son of parents who owned a weekly newspaper and a printing business, I have long believed that the protection and promotion of our First Amendment rights is one of our most fundamental responsibilities as Americans. But these are not just rights enshrined in our Constitution, they are universal rights, and freedom of expression, especially freedom of the press, is the cornerstone of any functioning democracy. So it is particularly troubling to witness the trend of democratically-elected leaders turned despots and wannabe strongmen playing a major role in the global assault on press freedom. Rodrigo Duterte, Fatah el-Sisi, Viktor Orban, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and a growing list of others all demonstrate that the decline of democratic governance and the intimidation, coercion, and threats of violence against journalists and the media go hand-in-hand. Of course, our own President's daily onslaught against journalists embolde… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-sewell-leads-bipartisan-legislation-strengthen-ambulance-services Rep. Sewell Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Ambulance Services 2019-11-01 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Devin Nunes (CA-22) and Peter Welch (VT-AL) introduced the Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act to strengthen ambulance service providers and help ensure they are able to continue delivering critical first responder and health care services in communities across the country. Ambulance services are a vital component of our local and national health care and emergency response systems, especially in rural and underserved areas where they are often the sole provider of emergency medical services in their communities, Sewell said. The Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act of 2019 will implement critical reforms to help ensure Alabamians have access to lifesaving emergency care, no matter where they live. Emergency first responders are critical to the health and safety of our communities, Blumenauer said. Rather than continue to put a band-aid on this problem, we must find permanent solutions to our inadequate Medicare payments for ambulance services, especially for vulnerable communities and those in rural areas. Rural ambulance services save lives and provide needed care in underserved areas every day, Welch said. This bipartisan bill will ensure that patients and rural areas have access to critical ambulance services, and that these services receive fair, consistent reimbursement for their important work. It's time for Congress to permanently fix this glitch and give ambulance services the certainty they need to continue serving all Americans. Ambulance services are critically important to rural Americans who may live close to an hour away from the nearest emergency room, Mullin said. Providing this care literally means the difference between life and death for many people. As we continue to battle the closures of critical access hospitals across Oklahoma, ambulance services are more important now than ever before. We must ensure that rural Americans receive the ca… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-passes-leahy-collins-brown-and-perdue-national-farm-to-school-month-resolution Senate Passes Leahy, Collins, Brown, And Perdue ‘National Farm To School Month’ Resolution 2019-11-01 2019 2019-11 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 11.01.19 Senate Passes Leahy, Collins, Brown, And Perdue National Farm To School Month' Resolution WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2019) The Senate Thursday night approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Leahy (D-Vt.) and cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.), to designate October as National Farm to School Month. Farm to School programs across the country increase access to local foods in schools, which helps enhance food education for children while also boosting economic opportunities for farmers. Led again by Leahy, in June the senators reintroduced the Farm to School Act, which will increase federal resources allocated to both serving healthy, nutritious meals in school cafeterias and supporting local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. Leahy said: One of the best ways to help students make healthy choices is to teach them about their food and how it is grown. Farm to School programs have given children and schools across the country the tools to craft farm-fresh, healthy, and delicious meals that students enjoy. Our bipartisan resolution recognizes the important contributions of farm to school programs across the nation. Collins said: Since 2013, schools and non-profits throughout Maine have received funding through farm to school programs to help purchase local food and implement innovative food and wellness lessons for students. By designating October 2019 as National Farm to School Month,' this resolution raises awareness of the importance of providing students with access to local and healthy foods while supporting Maine farmers and our agricultural economy. It also helps build support for legislation to improve and expand these programs, such as the Farm to School Act of 2019 we introduced earlier this year. Brown said: Farm to School programs promote regional food economies, while increasing access to locally grown produce, said Brown. As we recognizeNational Farm to School Month, we must continue to support our far… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-announces-88-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-victim-services-throughout-vermont Leahy Announces $8.8 Million in Federal Funding To Support Victim Services Throughout Vermont 2019-10-31 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.31.19 Leahy Announces $8.8 Million in Federal Funding To Support Victim Services Throughout Vermont WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Thursday that Vermont organizations will receive 10 grants totaling nearly $8.8 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to support crime victims and strengthen services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The announcement comes as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws to a close. Leahy worked to introduce a Senate resolution this week expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to support efforts to end domestic violence, provide safety for victims of domestic violence and their families, and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable. Too many times I saw firsthand the aftermath of domestic violence while serving as a prosecutor, Leahy said. Victims and survivors of domestic violence must never suffer in the shadows. I am honored to again join this resolution raising awareness of domestic violence. And next the Senate should come together, as it did in 2013, to further improve and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which the House already passed with strong bipartisan support. (Read the full text of the resolution). Leahy, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is a longtime leader in efforts to protect funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), the two federal programs that provide direct support to victims. As a leading member of the Judiciary Committee, Leahy led in writing and enacting the VAWA reauthorization in 2013, and two years later he helped raise the cap on the Crime Victims Fund, allowing Vermont and other states to be eligible for more funding. FY 2019 U.S Department of Justice Grants to Vermont: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) - Eight grants totaling $3.9 million: Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services (VCCVS), Waterbury: $394,929. The Sexual Assault Services Program gra… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-opposing-the-motion-to-proceed-to-the-defense-lhhs-appropriations-bills- Statement Opposing the Motion to Proceed to the Defense, LHHS Appropriations Bills 2019-10-31 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.31.19 Statement Opposing the Motion to Proceed to the Defense, LHHS Appropriations Bills Today, the Senate will vote on whether to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to a package of appropriations bills that will include the Senate Defense Appropriations bill and the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill. I strongly urge all Senators to vote no. I am disappointed that the Republican leadership by taking this step bowing to the demands of President Trump is continuing to delay funding for our troops. This delay is because they insist on including in this bill authority for President Trump to raid American tax dollars from our military money that is intended for specific military priorities to pay for his wall, which he promised that Mexico would pay for. And that is unacceptable. The President has already raided $6.2 billion from the Department of Defense (DOD) this year alone for his border wall all without congressional approval. First he diverted $2.6 billion from the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act, and then he took $3.6 billion more from military construction projects for his southern border wall. Much of that money came from projects that would have improved the lives of our troops and their families: military schools, child care centers, and improved training facilities. We oppose this bill because we are fighting to protect funds that are meant for the women and men of our military and their families. We oppose this bill because we stand with those patriotic Americans, and we refuse to place the President's failed campaign promises on their backs. That alone should convince every member of this chamber to oppose this package. But, the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill tied to this Defense bill also short-changes the domestic priorities of the American people by stealing even more money to pay for President Trump's vanity wall. If all things were equal, the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill our largest domestic funding bill… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-welch-johnson-and-schweikert-introduce-bipartisan-and-bicameral Thompson, Welch, Johnson and Schweikert Introduce Bipartisan and Bicameral Telehealth Package 2019-10-30 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy Washington Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), Co-Chair of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, along with fellow Co-Chairs Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL), Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-06) and Rep David Schweikert (AZ-06), announced the introduction of the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. This bipartisan and bicameral package will help expand access to important telehealth services that can lower health costs and make health care more efficient for patients. A Senate companion bill was introduced by Senators Schatz, Wicker, Cardin, Thune, Warner, and Hyde-Smith. Telehealth is a proven method of effectively and efficiently delivering health care to patients who need it, particularly in rural areas and regions with health care workforce shortages. I am proud to join my fellow Congressional Telehealth Caucus Co-Chairs to introduce the CONNECT Act, said Thompson. This bipartisan bill introduced in both the House and Senate will help bring access to telehealth to more areas across our nation by expanding use to services like mental health and emergency care, improving the implementation process, including new sites that can provide telehealth care like Federally-qualified health centers, and helping providers better monitor patients. Studies have consistently shown telehealth to be an effective and cost-efficient health care delivery method, particularly for rural areas and places where there is a provider shortage. It can also be a game changer for patients who have limited mobility or other limitations to accessing traditional health care. The CONNECT Act works to remove current restrictions that limit the ability of patients to access telehealth and build on telehealth strategies that have already been shown to be effective. Underserved areas in both rural and urban communities desperately need cost-effective solutions to address the gap in health services, said Welch. This bipartisan bill will address that gap by expanding telehealth to improve quality of care, increas… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vermont-fire-departments-awarded-more-2-million-federal-grants Vermont Fire Departments Awarded More Than $2 Million in Federal Grants 2019-10-30 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy BURLINGTON, Vt., October 30 Vermont's congressional delegation announced Wednesday that the Vermont Fire Academy and fire departments throughout the state have received more than $2 million through 16 federal grants. The awards are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which helps fire departments, fire academies, and EMS agencies obtain critically needed equipment and training to better protect the public and first responders. This year's AFG grants will help departments purchase equipment including air packs, vehicle extraction tools, and a fire truck, and it will also fund paramedic training. Vermont's first responders are some of the most dedicated public servants we have. They keep our communities safe, answering the call at all hours of the day and night, and they put their own safety on the line in doing so. We are pleased that these federal grants will help departments secure the updated equipment they need and deserve so that they can continue to provide these vital services, said Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The federal grants were awarded to: Putney Fire Department, $181,510 Burlington Fire Department, $162,273 City of Rutland Fire Department, 47,317 Williston Fire Department (in partnership with Essex Rescue and Colchester Rescue), $305,209 Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Vermont Fire Academy, $124,585 Peru Fire Department, $62,039 Bethel Volunteer Fire Department, $124,286 Stamford Volunteer Fire Department, $9,524 Springfield Fire Department, $95,595 Newbury Volunteer Fire Department, $106,286 Grafton Firefighters' Association, $65,238 Essex Junction Fire Department, $141,071 Thetford Volunteer Fire Department, $118,065 Readsboro Fire Department, $85,714 Poultney Fire Department, $136,333 Rupert Volunteer Fire Department, $264,762 The next AFG application peri… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-courtney-lead-new-england-delegation-letter-defense-family-dairy Welch, Courtney Lead New England Delegation Letter in Defense of Family Dairy Farms 2019-10-25 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Peter Welch and Joe Courtney (CT-02), co-chairs of the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus, have led a delegation consisting of all 21 Members of Congress from New England in writing to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, pushing back on comments he made earlier this month at the World Dairy Expo about the future of small dairy farms. In their letter, the members highlighted the importance of family dairy farming to the history, culture, and economy of New England. The members offered an open invitation for Secretary Perdue to visit New England to learn more about the dairy industry in the region. The volatility of the dairy market over the past decade has made us keenly aware of the importance for stability among New England dairies. From Farm Service Agency supports to the Rural Energy for America Program, the federal government has played a key role in helping our farms become more fiscally and environmentally efficient, the delegation wrote. However, what our farmers see in action from the USDA is not reflected in your sentiments about the future of small family dairy farming. Joining Welch and Courtney in sending the letter were Representatives John Larson (CT-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jim Himes (CT-04), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Joseph Kennedy (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jared Golden (ME-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ann Kuster (NH-02), David Cicilline (RI-01), and Jim Langevin (RI-02). The members' full letter to Secretary is included below, and is available online. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/bipartisan-trio-of-leahy-grassley-and-cornyn-tout-bipartisan-process-significantly-improving-interior-depts-foia-regulations Bipartisan Trio Of Leahy, Grassley And Cornyn Tout Bipartisan Process Significantly Improving Interior Dept.’s FOIA Regulations 2019-10-25 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.25.19 Bipartisan Trio Of Leahy, Grassley And Cornyn Tout Bipartisan Process Significantly Improving Interior Dept.'s FOIA Regulations . . . Grassley, Leahy, Cornyn Tout Bipartisan Process Significantly Improving Interior Dept.'s FOIA Regulations WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2019) A bipartisan trio of key senators -- Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) Friday sent a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) David Bernhardt expressing appreciation for the changes reflected in the agency's final rule, published today, updating its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policies. In March, the senators, alongside the late Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Representative Elijah Cummings, wrote to Secretary Bernhardt to express significant concerns with DOI's proposed FOIA rule, which appeared to restrict public access to records and unnecessarily delay the processing of FOIA requests. Their letter also highlights the constructive dialogue and responsiveness that DOI provided since the members' March letter. They wrote: The final rule appears to more faithfully align with FOIA's twin goals of transparency and openness. While our offices will remain vigilant in our oversight of all agencies' FOIA policies under any administration we sincerely appreciate the efforts your Department took to keep Congress informed of the final rule's development. Moreover, we were pleased that the Department heard our concerns with the proposed rule and issued a final rule that seeks to directly address those concerns. Text of the letter follows: October 25, 2019 The Honorable David Bernhardt Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Secretary Bernhardt, In March of this year, we sent your Department a bipartisan, bicameral letter to express significant concerns with the D… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-others-press-trump-adm-for-answers-on-use-of-chemical-weapons-and-us-munitions-in-syria Leahy And Others Press Trump Adm. For Answers On Use Of Chemical Weapons & U.S. Munitions In Syria 2019-10-25 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.25.19 Leahy And Others Press Trump Adm. For Answers On Use Of Chemical Weapons & U.S. Munitions In Syria Leahy, Van Hollen, Blackburn And Blumenthal Press Administration For Answers On Use Of Chemical Weapons And U.S. Munitions In Syria WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2019) -- U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Friday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressing for information on reports of the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria. They are also seeking information regarding the use of U.S.-origin arms and equipment by Turkey in their fight against our allies, the Syrian Kurds. The senators request that Secretary Pompeo provide information by Nov. 1 on the credibility of reports of the use of white phosphorous against civilian populations and the use of U.S.-origin materiel. This letter follows the senators' introduction of legislation to levy strict sanctions on Turkey in response to their attack on the Syrian Kurds. The full text of the letter is available here and below. Dear Secretary Pompeo: We write with great concern regarding reports of the use of chemical weapons against civilian populations and the potential use of U.S.-origin defense articles by Turkish-backed forces in Syria. A report in Foreign Policy dated October 17, 2019 states that Turkish-backed forces appear to be using munitions loaded with white phosphorusa chemical that can maim and kill when it comes in contact with human fleshin their violent campaign against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. The report cites photos showing children in the border town of Ras al-Ain with chemical burns on their chests and faces consistent with wounds from white phosphorus. The report also cites an aid organization official who stated that several people had been admitted into the National Hospital in Hasakah city coming from… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-daines-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-americans-privacy-at-the-border Leahy And Daines Reintroduce Legislation To Protect Americans’ Privacy At The Border 2019-10-24 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.24.19 Leahy And Daines Reintroduce Legislation To Protect Americans' Privacy At The Border WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) Thursday reintroduced their legislation requiring the government to have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to search or seize Americans' electronic devices at the border. Currently, under the so-called border search exception to the Fourth Amendment, U.S. government officials can seize or search Americans' laptops, cell phones and other devices without any showing of probable cause to believe the device may contain illicit content. This raises serious constitutional concerns. Government searches of electronic devise at border crossings have nearly quadrupled since 2015, rising to 33,295 last year. Just yesterday, for instance, it was reported that an American citizen was picking up gifts at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport customs office, ahead of his daughter's wedding, when he was detained and had his cell phone seized. In this case, the man was not even traveling but was simply picking up belongings at the airport that had been shipped to him. This bipartisan bill includes provisions requiring reasonable suspicion or probable cause to search or seize Americans' electronic devices at the border, and it would require the government to obtain a warrant before conducting forensic searches of such devices. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to collect statistics on these searches and seizures and report them to Congress. Leahy said: This bill strikes a much needed balance between our Fourth Amendment rights and protecting our homeland. Much of the most personal details of our lives is now stored on our cell phones and other devices. Americans should not have to relinquish all of their fundamental privacy rights simply because they are coming home. Daines said: I will always fight to protect the privacy of Montanans. Regardless of where Montanans are, they should never have… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-other-senators-introduce-legislation-to-prohibit-export-of-crowd-control-equipment-to-hong-kong Leahy And Other Senators Introduce Legislation To Prohibit Export Of Crowd Control Equipment To Hong Kong 2019-10-24 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.24.19 Leahy And Other Senators Introduce Legislation To Prohibit Export Of Crowd Control Equipment To Hong Kong Bipartisan Legislation Follows Documentation By Human Rights Groups That U.S.-made Police Equipment Has Been Used By Hong Kong Police To Violate The Human Rights Of Peaceful, Pro-Democracy Protesters WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Thursday joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in introducing new bipartisan legislation that would ban the U.S. export of crowd control equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force. The legislation follows documented reports by human rights groups that U.S.-made police equipment has been used by Hong Kong police to violate the human rights of peaceful protesters during Hong Kong's ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations. Words cannot adequately describe the bravery and determination of the citizens of Hong Kong who, day after day for months, have taken to the streets demanding democratic reforms and the protection of civil liberties, said Leahy. They have been met with increasing violence by the police, and the White House has said nothing. This bill would ensure that the United States is not associated with or facilitating the use of excessive force, by banning exports of the types of weapons that are being used to try to silence the protesters. The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), James M. Inhofe (R-OK), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Peaceful protesters are being subjected to state-sponsored oppression, violence, and human rights abuses for demonstrating in support of a democratic future for Hong Kong, said Merkley. The U.S. should never be complicit in police violence against pro-democracy protests. As we support the voices callin… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-polio-eradication Statement on Polio Eradication 2019-10-24 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.24.19 Statement on Polio Eradication Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today is World Polio Day and I want to comment briefly about the funding to support global polio eradication efforts in the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which was reported unanimously by the Appropriations Committee on September 26th. Polio is a highly infectious, crippling, and potentially fatal disease. While there is no cure, there are safe and effective vaccines. The global strategy to eradicate polio, therefore, focuses on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States provides financial support and technical leadership around the world to support the eradication strategy. USAID focuses specifically on recognizing and raising the importance of identifying and reaching mobile populations, cross-border coordination, communications, and the need for more women vaccinators and community-based disease surveillance. Since global polio eradication efforts began 30 years ago, when cases numbered 350,000 annually, polio has been eliminated in more than 120 countries and remains endemic in only three Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. But, while significant progress has been made, much work remains. Cases of polio persist in insecure areas and in countries with porous borders and large migratory populations, posing considerable obstacles to eradication. However, while there have been real setbacks, and the goal posts continue to change, complacency is not an option. To that end, the Appropriations Committee has recommended $61 million in fiscal year 2020, an increase of $2 million over last year, for USAID's polio eradication activities. Increased resources are necessary to get over the finish line in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, and to demonstrate the continued U.S. commitment to polio eradication. It is our hope that thi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-united-states-and-cuba-today Statement On The United States and Cuba Today 2019-10-24 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.24.19 Statement On The United States and Cuba Today Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the Travel Section of the New York Times on Sunday, October 6, 2019, included a lengthy article about the extraordinary music of Cuba, and the rich culture that has developed over many generations around the creation and performance of music in that country. The article is too long to insert into the Record, but I encourage all Senators to read it as it describes in colorful detail the unique creativity, ingenuity, and complexity of Cuban music that derives from the infinite variety of sounds, instruments, artistry, and talents of Cuban musicians drawing on their African, Haitian, and European heritage. I mention this because it is illustrative of the many aspects of Cuban society today that Americans should be able to experience for themselves. The Cuban people, who endure many hardships, are as resilient, ingenious, and hard working as any people I have met. Despite an economy broken by mismanagement that discourages private initiative, a one-party political system that punishes dissent, racial and gender inequality, and only dreams for a better future, they know how to enjoy life's pleasures and to make strangers feel welcome. Unfortunately, rather than encouraging Americans to travel to Cuba to experience Cuban society and build relations with the Cuban people, as we do with people living under other autocratic governments, President Trump has slammed the door. Egged on by a handful of Cuban-American hardliners in the White House, the State Department, and Congress few if any of whom have ever set foot in Cuba the President has adopted a bankrupt approach toward that country that is steeped in hypocrisy. These are the same people who for years have unreservedly supported spending hundreds of millions of dollars on TV and Radio Marti, despite abundant evidence that they were little more than anti-Cuba propaganda broadcasts masquerading as objective journalism. Finally, thanks to a recent investigation, the Office … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-other-senators-announce-that-the-usda-inspector-general-has-opened-an-investigation-into-suppression-of-science-at-the-agency Leahy And Other Senators Announce That The USDA Inspector General Has Opened An Investigation Into Suppression Of Science At The Agency 2019-10-23 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.23.19 Leahy And Other Senators Announce That The USDA Inspector General Has Opened An Investigation Into Suppression Of Science At The Agency WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and 17 other senators in announcing that the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened an investigation that they requested into potential suppression and alteration of scientific reports, documents, and communications by political appointees at USDA. The announcement followed a June request by the senators to initiate the investigation following widespread reports of politically motivated decision making at USDA that led to potential instances of suppression and alteration of scientific reports, documents or communications produced by USDA. Leahy, a leading member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said: Reports that the USDA may be suppressing its own climate research are deeply troubling, and I'm glad the Inspector General has initiated this investigation. We can't allow politics to undermine scientific integrity. There is too much at stake for our children and grandchildren. A copy of Inspector General Fong's letter in response to the senators' request can be found here. Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-ocean-plastic-pollution Statement On Ocean Plastic Pollution 2019-10-21 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.21.19 Statement On Ocean Plastic Pollution Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, oceans, lakes, and rivers across our planet are filled with debris that litters shorelines and threatens public health, navigation safety, wildlife, and the environment. This debris causes serious damage to the health of ocean ecosystems and marine life, and, due to ocean currents, often travels great distances and poses threats to nations that are not responsible for the mismanagement of such waste. One of the most common forms of marine debris is plastic, which is abundant in our everyday lives, often in the form of single-use packaging. Countless seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine animals are killed each year after ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. And most commonly used plastics never fully degrade, but rather break down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which pose unique problems of their own. The negative health, environmental, and economic impacts of marine pollution, both to countries that discharge waste and to those on whose shorelines such waste washes up, are steadily mounting. Billions of pounds of plastic and other debris can be found in our oceans and waterways. In the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which was reported unanimously by the Appropriations Committee on September 26th, the Committee recommended funding to respond to this global threat. In the bill, the Committee directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to redouble their diplomatic and programmatic support for regional and global efforts to address this urgent problem, including through grants, technical assistance, and new multilateral mechanisms, and provides $10 million to support such efforts. While the funding provided is miniscule compared to what is needed, the Committee's intent is clear the United States must increase its leadership and visibility on this issue and become more engaged… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-panel-advances-major-initiative-lower-prescription-drug-prices House Panel Advances Major Initiative to Lower Prescription Drug Prices 2019-10-18 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Last night, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a major drug pricing reform bill that includes a price negotiation initiative long championed by Rep. Peter Welch. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 (H.R. 3) was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 30-22.The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will save at least $345 billion. It is expected to be considered by the full House in the near future. We are absolutely unique in this country where the federal government is prohibited from pushing back against the unlimited pricing power of the pharmaceutical industry, said Welch.This bill provides price relief to consumers by breaking the iron grip Big Pharma has over the price of lifesaving medicines. Current law prohibits the federal government from using its bulk purchasing power to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices on the most expensive and most utilized drugs covered by Medicare. Savings achieved through these negotiations would be available to commercial health insurance plans covering the same drugs. The refusal of any drug company to negotiate would result in a steep tax penalty. H.R. 3 will be renamed to honor Rep. Elijah Cummings who died unexpectedly yesterday. Cummings was Welch's partner in the House on price negotiation legislation. They met with President Trump at the White House in March 2017 to urge his support for their bill. Welch first introduced a price negotiation bill in 2010. He is the lead cosponsor of Rep. Cummings's price negotiation bill. He is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a leading advocate in Congress for lowering prescription drug prices. To view remarks made by Rep. Welch during committee debate on the bill, click here: https://youtu.be/pSRFoTCBgWQ ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/leahy-sanders-welch-urge-fda-swiftly-resolve-critical-drug-recall Leahy, Sanders, Welch Urge FDA to Swiftly Resolve Critical Drug Recall 2019-10-18 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy Washington, October 18 Today, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to swiftly resolve therecallof Natpara, a lifesaving drug used to manage blood calcium levels for people with a rare condition called hypoparathyroidism. For the more than 2,000 patients in the United States who rely on Natpara to manage their blood calcium levels, the shortage of available product has potentially dire health consequences. Untreated hypoparathyroidism can lead to heart failure and death. Patients across the country have already been hospitalized due to an inability to get Natpara, and we fear that as more patients run out of Natpara, the number of avoidable hospitalizations or worse may increase, the letter said. Natpara is manufactured solely by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and wasrecalled on September 5 due to a potential issue with rubber particulates from the injector pen contaminating the medicine. Despite therecallnow lasting over a month,FDAhas not shared any substantive information with patients about how long therecallmay last, what steps are being taken to develop short- and long-term solutions, or other patientguidance, wrote the members of Congress. [O]urconstituents have repeatedly contactedFDAand been left confused as to when the drug may become available again, as well as how they should proceed in the meantime. Given that these patients depend on Natpara to prevent serious health complications, this is entirely unacceptable. Let us be clear we strongly supportFDA's critical mission to protect public's health and use itsrecallauthority to protect patients from potentially harmful products. However, we also believe thatFDA's responsibility to American patients includes a responsibility to be transparent when possible, a commitment that has not been fulfilled in this case, the members said. It's really scary, said Vermonter Ryan Pollyin an interviewwith NBC5 news about therecall. Without this me… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-on-sat-hosts-23rd-annual-vt-womens-economic-opportunity-conf-at-vtc-in-randolph Leahy On Sat. Hosts 23rd Annual VT Women’s Economic Opportunity Conf., At VTC In Randolph 2019-10-18 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.18.19 Leahy On Sat. Hosts 23rd Annual VT Women's Economic Opportunity Conf., At VTC In Randolph This Saturday (Oct. 19) is the annual Vermont Women's Economic Opportunity Conference. Senator Patrick Leahy launched the yearly conference 23 years ago, and he partners with several agencies and organizations to organize the workshops. This year's keynote speaker is Jen Kimmich, CEO of Alchemist Brewery. Under Kimmich's leadership, the Stowe business has become one of Vermont's most popular tourist destinations and is famous for its Heady Topper brew. Leahy will introduce Jen Kimmich and make marks at 8:45 a.m. The conference is in Judd Hall, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-welch-urge-fda-to-swiftly-resolve-critical-drug-recall Leahy, Sanders, Welch Urge FDA To Swiftly Resolve Critical Drug Recall 2019-10-18 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.18.19 Leahy, Sanders, Welch Urge FDA To Swiftly Resolve Critical Drug Recall Washington, October 18 Today, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to swiftly resolve therecallof Natpara, a lifesaving drug used to manage blood calcium levels for people with a rare condition called hypoparathyroidism. For the more than 2,000 patients in the United States who rely on Natpara to manage their blood calcium levels, the shortage of available product has potentially dire health consequences. Untreated hypoparathyroidism can lead to heart failure and death. Patients across the country have already been hospitalized due to an inability to get Natpara, and we fear that as more patients run out of Natpara, the number of avoidable hospitalizations or worse may increase, the letter said. Natpara is manufactured solely by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and wasrecalled on September 5 due to a potential issue with rubber particulates from the injector pen contaminating the medicine. Despite therecallnow lasting over a month,FDAhas not shared any substantive information with patients about how long therecallmay last, what steps are being taken to develop short- and long-term solutions, or other patientguidance, wrote the members of Congress. [O]urconstituents have repeatedly contactedFDAand been left confused as to when the drug may become available again, as well as how they should proceed in the meantime. Given that these patients depend on Natpara to prevent serious health complications, this is entirely unacceptable. Let us be clear we strongly supportFDA's critical mission to protect public's health and use itsrecallauthority to protect patients from potentially harmful products. However, we also believe thatFDA's responsibility to American patients includes a responsibility to be transparent when possible, a commitment that has not been fulfilled in this case, the members said. It's really scary, said Vermonter Ryan Polly… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/judicial-travel-accountability-act-unveiled-in-congress Judicial Travel Accountability Act Unveiled In Congress 2019-10-17 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.17.19 Judicial Travel Accountability Act Unveiled In Congress Bill closes loopholes allowing Supreme Court justices and federal judges to keep secret who funds their travel and hospitality perks WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019) Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) Thursday led a bipartisan group in Congress to introduce the Judicial Travel Accountability Act, a bill to close loopholes that allow Supreme Court justices and federal judges to avoid disclosing travel and hospitality perks they enjoy as prominent public figures. Given the life tenure and extraordinary power to shape American law that comes with a federal court seat, there is a strong public interest in better understanding the nature of judicial travel and hospitality especially who pays for it. The members' legislation would help to bolster the non-partisan credibility of the Supreme Court, which has been eroding in the eyes of the public. Supreme Court justices and federal judges enjoy lifetime appointments and tremendous power to shape Americans' lives. With that power comes invitations from outside groups and individuals, many of whom are active litigants before federal courts, said Whitehouse. To avoid conflicts of interest, the American people ought to know what hospitality, travel, and other emoluments justices and judges receive. With a persistent, decades-long effort by big corporate and partisan donors to control the courts, it's more important than ever to require transparency in our judiciary. Full transparency is critical for ensuring public confidence in our system of justice. Supreme Court justices and federal judges should always be held to the highest ethical standards, said Cicilline. As Republicans like Mitch McConnell continue working with wealth special interests to change the face of the federal judiciary, it's absolutely crucial that we pass this bill now. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/durbin-leahy-introduce-new-legislation-to-increase-number-of-green-cards-available-eliminating-the-backlog Durbin, Leahy Introduce New Legislation To Increase Number Of Green Cards Available, Eliminating The Backlog 2019-10-16 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.16.19 Durbin, Leahy Introduce New Legislation To Increase Number Of Green Cards Available, Eliminating The Backlog WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019) U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced new legislation that would eliminate the family and employment green card backlog by increasing the number of green cards. Close to four million future Americans are on the State Department's immigrant visa waiting list, in addition to hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. who are also waiting for green cards. However, under current law only 226,000 family green cards and 140,000 employment green cards are available annually. Children and spouses of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) count against these numbers, further restricting the number of available green cards. One of the most serious problems in our broken immigration system is that there are not nearly enough green cards available each year. As a result, immigrants are stuck in crippling backlogs for many years, Durbin said. The solution to this backlog is clear: increase the number of green cards. I'm proud to introduce this commonsense legislation to finally eliminate the family and employment green card backlog. America at its core is a nation of immigrants, but too often our outdated immigration laws close doors to those who would make enormous contributions to our communities and economy. The mismatch between the supply and demand for green cards has left millions of immigrant families in legal limbo, stuck in a years-long backlog waiting for the chance to contribute to our nation, Leahy said. This commonsense legislation the crux of which was contained in comprehensive immigration reform, which overwhelmingly passed the Senate in 2013 would eliminate this backlog and is long overdue. Along with eliminating the family and employment green card backlog over fi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-to-president-trumps-veto-of-the-joint-resolution-of-disapproval-of-president-trumps-declaration-of-a-national-emergency Reaction To President Trump’s Veto Of The Joint Resolution Of Disapproval Of President Trump’s Declaration Of A National Emergency 2019-10-16 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.16.19 Reaction To President Trump's Veto Of The Joint Resolution Of Disapproval Of President Trump's Declaration Of A National Emergency President Trump's veto once again confirms his willingness to sell out our armed forces by stealing $6.2 billion from our men and women in uniform. He is ignoring the explicit will of Congress in order to build his big, beautiful, and useless vanity border wall. This should alarm every member of Congress, and the Appropriations Committee will not forget this as we continue our work to complete the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process. Congress is a coequal branch of government that cannot be ignored by the tweets and tantrums of a President determined to fulfill a cynical campaign promise, which he promised that Mexico would pay for. For three years, President Trump has failed to convince Congress that his wall is a good idea, and he has failed to convince Congress that this is a real national emergency. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to overturn the President's veto. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-unveils-bipartisan-legislation-boost-international-visits-vermont Welch Unveils Bipartisan Legislation to Boost International Visits to Vermont 2019-10-11 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy STOWE With the bustling Stowe Foliage Arts Festival as a backdrop, Rep. Peter Welch today unveiled legislation he is championing in Congress to boost international tourism to Vermont.Welch made the announcement at Top Notch during a roundtable discussion with leaders of Vermont's travel and tourism industry. Welch's legislation, co-authored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), would renew and fully fund the Brand USA program, a public-private partnership that promotes Vermont and other states to international tourists. The program is funded at no cost to taxpayers through a fee on international visitors. The travel and tourism industry is a key driver of Vermont's economy, said Welch. Promoting Vermont as a four-season destination to international visitors will create local jobs and boost the economy in every corner of our beautiful state.My legislation renews the successful Brand USA international marketing program and locks in a stable funding source that will advance Vermont's reputation as a world class tourism destination. The tourism industry is the heartbeat of the Vermont brand, said Amy Spear, Vice President of Tourism for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The renewal of the Brand USA program will bolster our international tourism marketing efforts to ensure a thriving industry in an ever-increasing global market. The Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2019 (H.R. 3851) would reauthorize Brand USA through 2027. In addition, it fixes a funding glitch that is threatening the successful program's existence. Specifically, a 2018 budget deal diverted its funding source to other programs. The Welch-Bilirakis bill creates a stable, long term funding source by increasing the international visitor user fee used to partially fund the program. Brand USA has a strong track record of attracting international visitors to the United States. In 2018 alone, its marketing program brought 1.13 million international visitors to the United States, generating an economic impact of $8.9 billion. According to th… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-tibetan-refugees-in-nepal Statement On Tibetan Refugees in Nepal 2019-10-11 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.11.19 Statement On Tibetan Refugees in Nepal Today the number of refugees and displaced persons in the world is higher than at any time since World War II. Desperate people fleeing war, persecution, and natural disasters have shined a spotlight on the enormous challenges confronting the international community. We see it in Lebanon, where a quarter of the population is Syrian refugees. We see it in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled in order to shield themselves from ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Burmese military. And now we hear that Nepal is considering signing an extradition agreement with China that could expose Tibetans to forced removal to China. This agreement reportedly could be signed in conjunction with the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi to Kathmandu. I have been a strong supporter of Nepal's transition to democracy, and I have voted for hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. assistance to help Nepal recover from the devastating earthquake in April 2015. A Vermont organization works to enable Nepalese suffering from glaucoma to regain their sight. Other Vermonters served in the Peace Corps in Nepal. It is a country that countless Americans have a deep affection for. The Government of Nepal deserves thanks for hosting Tibetan exiles and refugees over many decades, with the support of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the international community. By doing so, they have set an example that has saved many lives. But any refoulement of Tibetans to China would not only violate international law, it would cause significant damage to Nepal's reputation and it would have a negative impact on U.S. Nepalese relations. In addition to strongly urging against such an agreement with China, I also urge the Government of Nepal to promptly issue travel documents to Tibetans wishing to depart for India as it has done for years under the so-called Gentlemen's Agreement. And it should resume registration of Tibetan refugees living in Nepal, ma… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/democratic-appropriations-leaders-urge-greater-discipline-transparency-from-trump-administration-regarding-ice-funds Democratic Appropriations Leaders Urge Greater Discipline, Transparency from Trump Administration Regarding ICE Funds 2019-10-10 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.10.19 Democratic Appropriations Leaders Urge Greater Discipline, Transparency from Trump Administration Regarding ICE Funds In letter, lawmakers warn OMB, DHS that exception apportionments for ICE enforcement and removal operations must be reserved for extraordinary circumstances and communicated immediately to Congress WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019) Leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and Subcommittees on Homeland Security Thursday wrote to the Trump administration urging increased discipline and transparency related to any exception to the automatic apportionment of funds for enforcement and removal operations (ERO) at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a letter to Acting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Director Kevin McAleenan, the lawmakers noted that while the Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, For the past three years, exception apportionments have been used to increase funding for enforcement and removal operations above the level commensurate with the prior year appropriation, with little apparent justification or transparency. The letter was signed by House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY-17), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40), and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT). The lawmakers noted that under the terms and conditions of the continuing resolution that extended government funding through November 21, 2019, ICE is required to manage ERO in a way consistent with last fiscal year's spending levels. The lawmakers also noted that while there are limited exceptions to these restrictions, along with restrictions set forth in the Antideficiency Act (ADA), these exceptions… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/bristol-and-gilman-economic-development-efforts-will-receive-federal-boosts Bristol And Gilman Economic Development Efforts Will Receive Federal Boosts 2019-10-09 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.09.19 Bristol And Gilman Economic Development Efforts Will Receive Federal Boosts MONTPELIER, Vt. (Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Wednesday announced that two economic development projects in Addison and Essex Counties are receiving significant infusions of federal funds. In the Fiscal Year 2019 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Leahy the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- authored a unique partnership between the Northern Border Regional Commission and the U.S. Economic Development Administration that will result in the agencies awarding $500,000 to the Town of Bristol, and $390,130 to the Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation. The award to Bristol will help advance development plans for a commercial park as part of a public-private partnership between the Town and local developers Kevin Harper and David Blittersdorf who are partners in Stoney Hill Properties, LLC. Bristol has a solid track record of incubating successful business that ultimately choose to expand in other communities because of a lack of commercial space in town. The federal funds can support the construction of infrastructure such as a roadway, communication, and storm drainage. The award to the Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation will provide funding to build out electrical infrastructure and power distribution at the former Gillman Paper Mill site in Gillman, Vt.. The infrastructure will allow commercial entities to develop on the site, creating jobs regionally in Vermont and New Hampshire. Leahy said: Some development projects take years to come to fruition. This partnership between the NBRC and EDA leverages national and regional expertise to bring federal funds to bear for local Vermont communities. I'm pleased that with these funds Bristol and Gilman will be one step closer to achieving their respective economic visions. Harper said: The property that has come to be known as Stoney Hill was purchased from the State of Vermont by the town of Bristol some 20 years … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comments-on-presidents-trumps-decision-to-suddenly-withdraw-us-forces-from-northeastern-syria Comments On President’s Trump’s Decision To Suddenly Withdraw U.S. Forces From Northeastern Syria 2019-10-09 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.09.19 Comments On President's Trump's Decision To Suddenly Withdraw U.S. Forces From Northeastern Syria This precipitous decision, with minimal if any justification, consultation, or concern for the consequences, is immoral and unwise. Key Republicans and key Democrats in Congress have condemned this sudden action. By suddenly reversing course and abandoning those who have fought and died alongside our troops, we are signaling to the rest of the world that we cannot be trusted. It's been said that the President's sudden decision devalues the presidential handshake. Our allies, and the world, need to be able to trust the word and the soundness of the decisions of the United States of America. By creating a vacuum, it strengthens the hand of the Assad regime, of Russia, and of Iran and risks setting off a much larger conflict. Unfortunately there still is no U.S. strategy in Syria. President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. forces and open the door for a Turkish invasion against the Syrian Democratic Forces, comprised mostly of Kurds, who have been our strongest allies against ISIS, is a stark reminder of that fact. His decision was not based on calculated risk, there were no consultations with Congress, and it was apparently made against the advice of top officials in the U.S. military, the State Department, and our intelligence agencies. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comments-on-presidents-trumps-decision-to-suddenly-withdraw-us-forces-from-northeastern-syria2 Comments On President’s Trump’s Decision To Suddenly Withdraw U.S. Forces From Northeastern Syria 2019-10-09 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.09.19 Comments On President's Trump's Decision To Suddenly Withdraw U.S. Forces From Northeastern Syria While significant progress has been made against ISIS in Syria, it remains far from defeated and almost nothing else has turned out as people hoped. Much of the country is destroyed, roughly half a million Syrians have died, at least five million have fled to neighboring countries, and Bashir al-Assad, a ruthless dictator supported by Russia, is still in power. As was the case in the earliest days of the Syrian conflict, there are legitimate questions about the appropriate role of U.S. military forces in Syria, and about what our goal should be there. I opposed the Obama Administration's proposed authorization for the use of military force in Syria in 2013 because it was overly broad, and I opposed the manner in which President Trump twice attacked Syria without approval from Congress. Under the Constitution it is Congress's authority to declare war, and decisions about the use of the military should always be based on a well-defined strategy something I called for in Syria a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, there still is no U.S. strategy in Syria. President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. forces and open the door for a Turkish invasion against the Syrian Democratic Forces, comprised mostly of Kurds, who have been our strongest allies against ISIS, is a stark reminder of that fact. His decision was not based on calculated risk, there were no consultations with Congress, and it was apparently made against the advice of top officials in the U.S. military, the State Department, and our intelligence agencies. Rather, his impulsive decision was based on a phone call he had with Turkey's President Erdogan, a wannabe strongman himself, who decided it was in Turkey's interest to wipe out our Kurdish allies in northeastern Syria. Predictably, Turkish forces, armed with U.S. weapons, have already begun moving into Syria, which the Kurds have vowed to resist. Many predict there will be a bloodbath.… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-case-of-salman-al-awda Statement On The Case of Salman al-Awda 2019-10-09 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.09.19 Statement On The Case of Salman al-Awda A year after the horrifying, premeditated murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by agents of the Saudi Government, Salman al-Awda, a renowned Saudi reformist cleric, may be sentenced to prison or even death for acts of peaceful expression that are protected under international law and in every civilized nation. According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi authorities brought Mr. al-Awda, 61, before the Specialized Criminal Court, the country's terrorism tribunal, on September 3, 2018. It was the first time he was allowed contact with a lawyer since his arrest a year earlier, which itself is a flagrant violation of international law. At the hearing, prosecutors announced 37 charges and their intention to seek the death penalty. After reviewing the charges, Human Rights Watch determined that [t]he vast majority of the charges are connected to his alleged ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatari government, and his public support for imprisoned dissidents. None refer to specific acts of violence or incitement to acts of violence. Concerns about Mr. al-Awda and similar cases in Saudi Arabia have been echoed by distinguished UN human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. They have deplored Saudi Arabia's misuse of counter-terrorism and security-related laws against religious figures, writers, journalists, academics and civic activists, who are being targeted, in what they describe as a worrying pattern of widespread and systematic arbitrary arrests and detention. In a joint statement in January 2018, they said: The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are severely restri… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scanlon-boyle-welch-introduce-legislation-lower-healthcare-costs Scanlon, Boyle, Welch Introduce Legislation to Lower Healthcare Costs 2019-10-08 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-2), and Peter Welch (VT-At Large) introduced the Better Tools to Lower Costs Act of 2019 which would expand access to affordable prescription drugs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries by suspending a restrictive asset limit that prevents many in need from qualifying for relief. Under current guidelines, the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, otherwise known as the Extra Help program, provides subsidies to low-income Medicare beneficiaries to help bring down the costs of their Medicare Part-D prescription drugs. This program helps lower the costs of premiums and deductibles, for some individuals covering them entirely, and sets a very low cap on the cost of each prescription drug. While the program does protect many of these most vulnerable people, a restrictive asset limit prevents many in need from qualifying for the program. In addition to being under a certain income threshold, LIS applicants must also have less than $9,230 for individuals or $14,600.00 for couples in qualifying assets. The list of assets that qualify includes cash, checking and savings accounts, and IRAs. This asset requirement restricts low-income individuals who may have a small amount of retirement savings or emergency cash stowed away from applying for the subsidies they desperately need. We must do all we can to remove the barriers to access of affordable healthcare, Scanlon said. No one should be punished for preparing for their future or be forced to jump through hoops to get needed help paying for prescription drugs. The Better Tools to Lower Costs Act of 2019 would suspend the asset requirement, making sure those most in need have access to these necessary resources. It's time we modernize theLISto support families that need our help the most, Boyle said. The cost of prescription drugs has skyrocketed for families across the nation. I'm proud to join my colleague in introducing this legislation to remove an arbitrary barrier that prevents some of ou… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/whitehouse-and-leahy-call-for-investigation-into-conduct-of-former-top-justice-department-official Whitehouse And Leahy Call for Investigation into Conduct of Former Top Justice Department Official 2019-10-04 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.04.19 Whitehouse And Leahy Call for Investigation into Conduct of Former Top Justice Department Official . . . Former Civil Rights Division Head John Gore appears to have violated Department ethics rules, documents show . . . Gore's credibility is already under scrutiny for promoting a citizenship question on the 2020 Census (FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019) -- Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on Friday released their request to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division John Gore for possible ethics violations. Documents obtained by the senators through a watchdog group's Freedom of Information Act request show Gore taking action as a Department official to pursue allegations of voting irregularities in Chicago brought to his attention by a Republican political operative. Gore went so far as to elevate the allegations to the Trump White House. These documents contradict a declaration Gore submitted under penalty of perjury in federal court denying the official-capacity nature of his communications with the operative. Such behavior appears to run afoul of several rules of professional conduct for Department officials and calls into question the Department's continued reliance on Mr. Gore's apparently untruthful testimony. To the extent the Department continues to rely in ongoing litigation on testimony it knows to be false, that raises separate, serious ethical questions for Department ethics officials to resolve. The senators write that Gore's conduct remains at issue in at least two ongoing lawsuits, and the Department and its lawyers continue to rely on his testimony in these and other matters. . . . [D]ocuments within DOJ's possessionthough not produced by DOJ in relevant litigationcast significant doubt on Mr. Gore's truthfulness in these matters. This may implicate n… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/registration-deadline-nears-for-sen-leahys-23rd-annual-vt-womens-economic-opportunity-conference Registration Deadline Nears For Sen. Leahy’s 23rd Annual VT Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference 2019-10-01 2019 2019-10 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 10.01.19 Registration Deadline Nears For Sen. Leahy's 23rd Annual VT Women's Economic Opportunity Conference (TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019) Vermont's 23rd Annual Women's Economic Opportunity Conference, presented by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. The registration deadline is Oct. 10. The daylong conference will kick off with a keynote address by Jen Kimmich, co-founder and CEO of the Alchemist Brewery and board chair of the Alchemist Foundation, which works to expand opportunities for young Vermonters. Nearly two dozen workshops will cover a range of topics from basic money management to workplace harassment. Whether Vermonters are looking to start up a business, improve their social networking skills or navigate the challenges of self-employment, this conference is designed to guide them to valuable resources and opportunities. More information and registration details can be found on Senator Leahy's website at leahy.senate.gov. To help make this annual conference accessible to all Vermonters, the conference and lunch are free with pre-registration. For more information, call Senator Leahy's office at 802-229-0569. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-the-retirement-of-general-joseph-dunford-as-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff Comment On The Retirement Of General Joseph Dunford As Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff 2019-09-30 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.30.19 Comment On The Retirement Of General Joseph Dunford As Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Marine Four-Star General Joseph Dunford retired today as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He's an exceptional and visionary leader who I've known for years, especially from when he was the Commandant of the Marine Corps. As the father of a Marine I looked at Joe Dunford as the best the Corps could have. He is a good friend and I enjoyed the conversations we'd have, often over breakfast, but also when he came to give the commencement address at St. Michael's College in Vermont. Both of us are St. Mike's alums, and we both did our graduate work at Georgetown University. Marcelle and I were honored to travel with him then to Vermont, and all three of us are proud recipients also of honorary degrees from St. Mike's. He told the graduates, have the moral courage to do what's right, even when it's tough. Commit to serving something bigger than yourselves. General Dunford has led by example. Marcelle and I join a grateful nation in sending our best wishes to him and to Ellyn as they begin their next chapter. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-renames-national-historical-revitalization-grant-program-in-honor-of-the-late-vermonter-paul-bruhn Leahy Renames National Historical Revitalization Grant Program In Honor Of The Late Vermonter Paul Bruhn 2019-09-27 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.27.19 Leahy Renames National Historical Revitalization Grant Program In Honor Of The Late Vermonter Paul Bruhn WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Sept. 27, 2019) A national grant program dedicated to the rehabilitation of historic properties and preserving community resources is being renamed the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants program in honor of the Vermonter who dedicated his life to preserving the legacy and historic icons of rural America. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was the driving force behind the name change and also led in creating the grant program itself. Leahy included the naming provision in the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, the annual budget bill that funds the Interior Department and other agencies. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved the bill, which goes next to the full Senate. Leahy said: Paul Bruhn was one of the finest Vermonters I ever worked with and one of the best friends Marcelle and I have ever had. He was a champion of historic preservation and leaves our state a legacy that is preserved in brick, mortar, stone and wood. Paul knew that historic preservation is not a cost for saving the past, but a wise investment in the future. Renaming this program is a fitting gesture of our appreciation for what Paul did for our state and our country. Bruhn was a longtime friend and advisor of Leahy's, serving as his campaign manager in 1974 and later as his first chief of staff in Washington. After leaving Washington in 1980, Bruhn co-founded the Preservation Trust of Vermont and served as its Executive Director until his passing last week at the age of 72. It was his work in Vermont that was a foundation for Leahy's creation of the Historic Revitalization grant program in 2018. Bruhn earlier had partnered with Leahy in organizing dozens of projects across Vermont to help revitalize town centers, while conserving Vermont's history and Vermonters' heritage. Bruhn and Leahy… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-and-mckinley-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-address-orphan-drug Welch and McKinley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address ‘Orphan Drug’ Loophole in the 340B Program 2019-09-26 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) that would address a loophole contributing to the rising cost of health care for consumers and threatening access to lifesaving medications. The introduction of this legislation is the latest in Welch's efforts to fix the broken prescription drug market that has led to unrestrained price increases for consumers and providers. Drug companies have been taking advantage of the orphan drug' loophole since 2014 at the expense of consumers, and rural hospitals and healthcare providers, Welch said. Hospitals rely on the 340B program to ensure they are able to continue to serve rural and vulnerable Americans with health care needs. We cannot allow big drug companies to use this loophole to cash in at the expense of these hospitals and those they serve. The 340B program was created to help hospitals who serve our rural communities with the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry has been looking for loopholes in the program. McKinley said. Our bill would put a stop to this by making sure that the orphan drug exclusion is used as intended, so that patients continue to get the treatment they need. The 340B Drug Pricing Program requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible health care organizations at significantly reduced prices. This includes Federally Qualified Health Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grantees, and certain types of hospitals and specialized clinics with a high proportion of Medicare and Medicaid patients. Current law excludes so called orphan drugs, which are designated by the Department of Health and Human Services and treat rare diseases, from this program. Drug companies take advantage of this loophole to charge higher prices for these drugs even when they are not used for the rare condition or disease that they received orphan status for. The Closing Loopholes for Orphan Drugs Act woul… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/2019-09-26-statement-on-climate-change Statement On Climate Change 2019-09-26 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.26.19 Statement On Climate Change Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased that the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill for the Department of State and foreign operations was reported unanimously by the Committee earlier today. There is a great deal in the bill that the American people can feel good about, as the summaries released by both the majority and minority indicate. However, as is always the case with bipartisan legislation, there are also things that I wish were not in the bill. And there are things missing from the bill that I wish had been included. I want to speak about one of those. I deeply regret that the bill does not even mention the words climate change. That is remarkable, or perhaps a better word is appalling, when one considers the existential threat that climate change poses for every living thing on Earth. If Democrats were in the majority, funding for programs to combat global warming and adapt to climate change would be a priority in the bill. Instead, it is completely missing. An example is the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was created in 2010 with the active participation of the United States. Its mission is to respond to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development. The GCF was established to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries, and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The U.S. contributed a total of $1 billion in the first two years of operation of the GCF. Then President Trump was elected. Even though, according to press reports, the Trump Organization had previously cited climate change in its application for a permit to build a barrier to protect a Trump golf course from the rising sea level and increasingly powerful storms, he continues to publicly refuses to recognize climate change as a serious threat. Despite that hypocrisy, and overwhelming scientific recognition of the impact of burning fossil fuels on the Earth's climate, the Trump White House withdre… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/remarks-on-the-one-year-anniversary-of-the-murder-of-jamal-khashoggi Remarks on the One Year Anniversary of the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi 2019-09-26 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.26.19 Remarks on the One Year Anniversary of the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today we remember, and remind the world, that nearly one year has passed since the premeditated murder of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi Government. That horrific crime carried out so brazenly as if it were just a routine job exposed the true character of the Saudi Government not only as it pertains to Mr. Khashoggi, but to the ruthless treatment of critics of the Saudi royal family more broadly. While the Crown Prince systematically orders the execution of his opponents, he has so far escaped punishment for the murder of Mr. Khashoggi and for the lies about that crime. Multiple Saudi officials, including the Foreign Minister, Minister of Interior, and others all members of the royal family flagrantly and shamelessly lied to the world, repeatedly changing their story. The Crown Prince called Khashoggi a dangerous jihadist.That too was a lie. The Saudis, who have refused to turn over Mr. Khashoggi's remains, insist that the men who were arrested are the only ones involved in the murder.No one who knows anything about the Saudi royal family, which is the Saudi Government, believes that. Despite all the incriminating evidence and all the lies, the White House continues to ignore its own intelligence experts and the UN Special Rapporteur, relying instead on the Saudi royal family to investigate itself.What a sham. This crime reminds us that journalists the world over who shine a spotlight on corrupt, repressive governments risk their lives and the safety of their families.They are threatened and killed for nothing more than doing their job. Today we are also concerned about the fate of hundreds of courageous pro-democracy activists who have recently been arrested for protesting against corruption and repression in Egypt.Journalists, members of opposition political parties, and civil society activists in Egypt are routinely persecuted, denied due process, and subjected to prolonged physical and… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-republicans-reject-leahy/tester-amendments-to-invest-in-real-national-security-protect-funding-for-our-troops-and-constrain-president-trumps-cruel-and-ineffective-immigration-policies Senate Republicans Reject Leahy/Tester Amendments To Invest In Real National Security, Protect Funding For Our Troops, And Constrain President Trump’s Cruel And Ineffective Immigration Policies 2019-09-26 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.26.19 Senate Republicans Reject Leahy/Tester Amendments To Invest In Real National Security, Protect Funding For Our Troops, And Constrain President Trump's Cruel And Ineffective Immigration Policies WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Sept. 26, 2019) Senate Appropriations Committee Republicans Thursday rejected a series of amendments offered by Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) aimed at investing in real national security, protecting funding for our troops, and reining in President Trump's cruel and ineffective immigration policies. Leahy said: This administration has demonstrated repeatedly that it cannot be trusted as good stewards of taxpayer's hard earned dollars or to carry out the bipartisan will of Congress. It is disappointing that Republicans once again refused to rein in the abuses of this President, his cruel immigration policies, or his ineffective wall, which he promised Mexico would pay for. Tester said: This bill includes $5 billion to build an ineffective border wall at the expense of American taxpayers a wall that will do nothing to fix the current situation at the border and that comes at the expense of the critical programs that actually protect Americans from threats. We just saw the President ransack $6.1 billion from the military for his wallI'm putting my foot on the brakes today because another $5 billion end-run is a bridge too far. The first Tester/Leahy amendment reduces spending in the bill by $3.6 billion by striking $5 billion from the DHS appropriations bill Senate Republicans allocated for President Trump's ineffective border wall. Those funds would have been directed toward investments in real homeland security and middle class priorities across the non-defense appropriations bills like education, health care and infrastructure. The Amendment reallocated $1.375 billion of Trump's wall funding to make additional investments in border technology, TS… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/grassley-and-leahy-introduce-eb-5-reform-bill Grassley and Leahy Introduce EB-5 Reform Bill 2019-09-25 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.25.19 Grassley and Leahy Introduce EB-5 Reform Bill Bill improves integrity in Investor Visa Program, adds security protections requested by USCIS WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2019) Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), leading members and former chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have introduced legislation to tackle fraud, abuse and national security threats in the EB-5 Investor Visa Program. The bipartisan EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act addresses concerns that the Department of Homeland Security has long expressed about ongoing abuse and exploitation of vulnerabilities in the program. For many years, I've expressed concerns about the rampant abuse and fraud in the EB-5 program. Both the Trump and Obama administrations understood the need to take decisive action through regulations to modernize EB-5 and restore its central purpose of promoting investment in rural and economically challenged regions. I'm pleased that the Trump administration published those regulations earlier this year. However, some of the most frightening weaknesses in the program, including national security vulnerabilities, require congressional action. This bill builds upon our previous efforts to restore integrity and security in EB-5, and it includes the reforms sought by DHS since the Obama administration. Given what we learned about the vulnerabilities in this program, we cannot afford to continue this program without addressing these critical issues, Grassley said. I have partnered with Senator Grassley for years to clean up the EB-5 program. We successfully worked with both the Obama and Trump administrations to take important administrative steps to promote integrity and end the abuse of investment incentives that have plagued the program. But the Department of Homeland Security cannot fix all of the EB-5 program's flaws on its own. We are hopeful that Congress will finally take decisive action to address… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leading-democrats-respond-to-trump-falsehoods-on-ukraine Leading Democrats Respond to Trump Falsehoods on Ukraine 2019-09-25 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.25.19 Leading Democrats Respond to Trump Falsehoods on Ukraine WASHINGTONU.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)issued the following joint statement in response to President Trump's reference to a letter they sent to the General Prosecutor of Ukraine in 2018 raising their concerns that the Trump Administration could unduly pressure Ukraine into obstructing the Mueller investigation by withholding funding: President Trump is desperate to divert attention from his abuse of power. We wrote to the Ukrainian prosecutor general in 2018 regarding press reports that, in order to curry favor with President Trump, Ukraine was considering not cooperating with Special Counsel Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in U.S. elections. The Ukrainians were justifiably concerned that Trump would exact revenge by blocking security assistance if they did not act in his political favor. It turns out that was truer than any of us could have imagined. Yes, we were worried that the President of the United States would abuse his office and leverage U.S. security assistance for his own personal agenda back in 2018. It looks like we were right then and we are right now. The Senators' letter was written in response to a New York Times report that the Ukrainian Prosecutor General was considering not cooperating with the Mueller Probe out of concern that President Trump would cut off aid as punishment. The Senators' letter in no way calls for the conditioning of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. ### Press Contact Juan Pachon (Menendez), 202-224-4651 Emily Hampsten (Durbin) 202-228-5643 David Carle (Leahy) 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-rep-peter-welch-regarding-speaker-pelosi-s-announcement Statement of Rep. Peter Welch Regarding Speaker Pelosi’s Announcement on Impeachment 2019-09-24 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy I applaud and strongly support the decision by Speaker Pelosi to commence impeachment proceedings against President Trump. By his own admission, the President pressured a foreign leader to take action that would directly benefit his reelection campaign. It appears he did so shortly after he directed his staff to suspend the pending release of a congressionally approved foreign aid package to that country. And his Justice Department has blocked Congress from receiving a whistleblower's complaint about his actions which violates a federal statute that unequivocally requires its submission to Congress. In taking these actions, President Trump willfully put his own political interests above the national security interests of the American people. Throughout his presidency, he has established a clear pattern of disregard for the rule of law and our constitutional system of checks and balances. And he has repeatedly violated his oath of office to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution. I continue to support his impeachment. Rep. Welch is a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. He announced his support for the impeachment of President Trump on July 18, 2019. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-in-opposition-to-the-nomination-of-daniel-jorjani-to-be-solicitor-at-the-department-of-the-interior Comment In Opposition To The Nomination of Daniel Jorjani To Be Solicitor At The Department Of The Interior 2019-09-24 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.24.19 Comment In Opposition To The Nomination of Daniel Jorjani To Be Solicitor At The Department Of The Interior I opposed the nomination of Daniel Jorjani to serve as the Interior Department's Solicitor, in large part because he was a chief architect of the deeply harmful policy to inject political interference into the Department's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses. This legally dubious policy and Mr. Jorjani's role in creating it has raised serious, bipartisan concerns, and is now under investigation by the Department's Inspector General. I also share the concerns that Mr. Jorjani may have misled the Senate, under oath, about his involvement in the Department's politicization of FOIA responses. Mr. Jorjani's willingness to put politics above the law should disqualify him from serving as the Interior Department's top lawyer. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-vice-chairman-leahy-on-the-joint-resolution-of-disapproval-of-president-trumps-declaration-of-a-national-emergency- Statement of Vice Chairman Leahy On The Joint Resolution Of Disapproval Of President Trump's Declaration Of A National Emergency 2019-09-24 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.24.19 Statement of Vice Chairman Leahy On The Joint Resolution Of Disapproval Of President Trump's Declaration Of A National Emergency Sometimes casting a vote on the Senate floor is just a matter of course. It is something we do routinely, usually without considering the impact of that vote on the Senate as an institution, let alone on our constitutional republic as we know it. This week's vote on President Trump's national emergency declaration is different. It is a pivotal moment in this body's history. It is a stress test of the very notion of separation of powers. And it will be viewed for decades as the moment when Congress either asserted itself as a coequal branch of government or surrendered as a subordinate to the will of a President who now claims his powers are absolute. This is a President who has said out loud that the Constitution gives him the right to do whatever I want as President. This President is now attempting to ignore the explicit will of Congress by simply declaring a national emergency to fund his big, beautiful wall. A wall he promised Mexico would pay for. For three years, he failed to convince Congress that his wall was a good idea. Even when his own party controlled both chambers of Congress, his tweets and tantrums couldn't convince enough members that his cynical campaign promise was worthy of tens of billions in taxpayers dollars. So when Congress didn't comply, he directed his yes-men to tell him that he could fund his pet project nonetheless by declaring a national emergency out of thin air, and stealing funds from our troops and their families. He even admitted his national emergency declaration was a matter of political expediency rather than justified by facts when he declared from the Rose Garden that he didn't need to invoke a national emergency, he could build the wall over a longer period of time he just wanted do it faster. And, once, again the whims of this President trample over the constitution. President Trump's declaration of a national … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-environmental-defenders-in-the-philippines Statement On Environmental Defenders In The Philippines 2019-09-24 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.24.19 Statement On Environmental Defenders In The Philippines Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, killings of environmental defenders are shockingly common in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The assassination of Berta Caceres in Honduras three years ago, orchestrated by top officials of a hydroelectric company and carried out by retired and active duty soldiers who had received training from the United States, was emblematic of the widespread use of harassment, threats, and murder to silence those who courageously call for changes in policies and practices to protect the environment. According to a report released today by Global Witness, the Philippines has the highest number of killings in Asia of people who oppose illegal logging, destructive mining, and corrupt agribusiness, with at least 30 cases documented in 2018. The total number is likely higher, as some investigations are ongoing. Many of the victims simply wanted a say in how their land and the country's natural resources are used. The perpetrators are almost never arrested or prosecuted. On July 25, 2016, the Philippines' newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation address. He promised to safeguard the country's rural and indigenous communities, tackle corruption, and protect the environment. The results since then paint a very different and distressing picture. If President Duterte meant what he said, he has failed miserably. According to Global Witness, in the three years before Duterte took office at least 65 land and environmental defenders were murdered. That was appalling enough. But in the three years since he came to power that number rose to 113. At least 31 of those murders were reportedly committed by the Philippine armed forces, whose soldiers and officers act with near total impunity. The Philippines is a major recipient of U.S. military aid, and we are perceived by the families of the victims to be enablers of these crimes. In addition to increasing support for local environmental defenders, t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-burlington-international-airport-awarded-159-million-for-taxiway Leahy: Burlington International Airport Awarded $15.9 Million For Taxiway 2019-09-23 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.23.19 Leahy: Burlington International Airport Awarded $15.9 Million For Taxiway (MONDAY, Sept. 23, 2019) -- Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Monday that Burlington International Airport will receive $15.9 million in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to continue its work on a parallel taxiway. The grant is the largest single award ever received by the airport. The funding will allow for the reconstruction of Taxiway G to the existing taxiway B/K intersection generating a full parallel taxiway with the main Runway 15/33; creating a more efficient operation and reducing noise levels for residents along Airport Drive. Leahy said: This award by the FAA continues the federal investment in safe flight operations at Burlington International. The airport is an essential economic driver for our state and region, and this type of infrastructure project will help keep it strong for years to come. In his role as Vice Chairman, Leahy has made airport improvements an ongoing budget priority, pushing for billions of dollars in investments to upgrade the nation's aging airport infrastructure, including $3.8 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) in the Fiscal Year 2020 Transportation Appropriations Bill that the committee approved last Thursday. Funds from the AIP support airport safety, terminal, and noise mitigation projects. Gene Richards, Director of Aviation at Burlington International Airport, said: We are very grateful for the opportunity provided by the congressional delegation and the FAA to finish BTV's first ever parallel taxiway to the main runway. The $15.9 million grant awarded to BTV for the completion of the parallel taxiway, Taxiway Golf, will allow the Airport to function at the highest level. The complete Taxiway G extension will create a single taxiway parallel to Runway 15-33 and linking to the current Taxiway K. Construction of the first phase, at current Taxiway K, started early November … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comments-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-the-passing-of-paul-bruhn Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Passing Of Paul Bruhn 2019-09-20 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.20.19 Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Passing Of Paul Bruhn It hit hard when Marcelle and I learned of the sudden loss of our dear, dear friend, Paul Bruhn. Our hearts ache for Colleen and for all who knew and loved him. He is one of the finest Vermonters I ever worked with, and one of the dearest andbest friends we have both had, and we loved him. His work on historic preservation is equal to the work that anyone has ever done for the State of Vermont. Those countless success stories are preserved in brick, mortar, stone and wood across our state. I've known Paul since he was a young man in his 20s. He came with me to Washington and helped me set up my office, and he was my first chief of staff. I watched with pride when Paul received an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and we both had the same message: Historic preservation is not a cost for saving the past, but a wise investment in the future. Paul felt to his core that we Vermonters have a rich legacy defined by our people, our history, our downtowns and village centers, as well as our iconic barns and covered bridges. Now he is part of Vermont's legacy. We'll never see another like Paul Bruhn. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/welch-bemoans-gridlock-urges-local-action Welch bemoans gridlock, urges local action 2019-09-19 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Peter Welch W000800 welch.house.gov     legacy MIDDLEBURY Vermont Congressman Peter Welch on Monday in Middlebury urged Vermonters to uphold the tenets of democracy and community service in face of a White House and U.S. Senate that he believes have collectively abandoned such values. Welch discussed congressional gridlock, the U.S. House agenda and his continued support for the impeachment of President Donald Trump during an Addison Independent-sponsored appearance at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society. During his remarks and a Q&A session, Vermont's lone U.S. representative voiced frustration with legislative inaction, Trump's frequent tweets and a U.S. Senate that he said is more intent on confirming conservative judges and ensuring the president a second term, rather than processing bills aimed at improving the lives of Americans. We're in very serious times. What's going on in Washington now is very serious and very dire, he said. What is in contention is the guardrails of Democracy. Vermonters elected Peter Welch, a Windsor County Democrat, to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006. He has been re-elected by massive margins in subsequent elections. Welch currently serves on the House Committees on Energy & Commerce, and Oversight & Reform. He's also a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. He said the tenor of debate in the nation's capital is unlike anything he's seen before. We had serious disagreements, but it was about issues that affected the livelihood and wellbeing of citizens, Welch said. With this new president, what's in doubt is our respect for the courts and their independence; what's in doubt is our bedrock commitment that people are equal and entitled to be treated with respect, regardless of their religion, regardless of their country of origin, regardless of their ethnicity. This pattern, according to Welch, was established during the Trump presidential campaign. And it's continued since then, he charged, with an assertion that journalism wh… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-appropriations-committee-approves-leahy-led-250-m-in-critical-election-security-funding Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Leahy-Led $250 M. In Critical Election Security Funding 2019-09-19 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.19.19 Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Leahy-Led $250 M. In Critical Election Security Funding . . . Ahead of 2020 Elections, Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Bipartisan Leahy/ Shelby/Coons Election Security Amendment WASHINGTON (Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019) The Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday approved $250 million in funds to support state and local governments' efforts to strengthen election security ahead of the 2020 elections. The funding was included in a bipartisan amendment to the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill and sponsored by Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), and Senate Appropriations FSGG Subcommittee Ranking Member Chris Coons (D-Del.). The funding will allow states to upgrade election technology, improve cybersecurity, and help prevent future cyberattacks. Leahy said: We know that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election, targeted our election infrastructure, and did so, according to Mr. Mueller, in sweeping and systematic' fashion. This problem was not isolated to 2016 and we cannot be complacent now. These funds are critical to our national security and I look forward to working with Senator Coons and others to increase this funding further in Conference. Coons said: Our elections were attacked in 2016, and we have every reason to believe that they will be attacked again. Today, I'm pleased that, on a bipartisan basis, the Senate Appropriations Committee came to an agreement to provide $250 million in election security grants that will allow states to replace outdated election machinery and invest in cybersecurity. This is a responsible investment and I'm grateful to Senator Leahy for his leadership on this issue. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence recently released a report outlining Russian effor… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/air-force-answers-question-about-afterburner-use-for-f-35s-on-national-guard-bases Air Force Answers Question About Afterburner Use For F-35s On National Guard Bases 2019-09-18 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.18.19 Air Force Answers Question About Afterburner Use For F-35s On National Guard Bases The following is a response provided to Senator Leahy by the Air Force to his inquiry about whether the Headquarters of the Air Force was directing Air National Guard units to plan for additional afterburner use. The Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) has long said that VTANG does not intend to fly more than 5 percent of takeoffs with afterburners. An internal email from Air Combat Command shared with opponents of the F-35 in Vermont claimed a contractor had said noise studies for Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth should be conducted to consider the option for higher afterburner usage, but did not assert that there would be any changes for National Guard units. Senator Leahy inquired with the Air Force to ascertain if higher afterburner usage would be recommended for Air National Guard units, or if the reported email referred only to the Air Force Reserve unit basing study at Fort Worth. The Air Force confirmed that the Air National Guard would maintain afterburner usage of five percent or below, and any changes were only under consideration for Fort Worth and for the Air Force Reserve. The Air National Guard is a dual-mission force geographically bound to individual states and under the command of its governor, with both Federal and State responsibilities. Guard units tend to be largely made up of individuals from the local community, who serve for decades and sometimes their entire careers with their state. In contrast, the Air Force Reserve is a Federal force always reporting through the national chain of command, which draws individuals from around the country with specific skills. Click here to see the full response. Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-vermont-tapped-to-receive-grant-to-create-a-dairy-business-innovation-initiative Leahy: Vermont Tapped To Receive Grant To Create A Dairy Business Innovation Initiative 2019-09-18 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.18.19 Leahy: Vermont Tapped To Receive Grant To Create A Dairy Business Innovation Initiative . . . Vermont Will Host One of Only Three Initiatives Nationwide... Innovation is a key to value-added agriculture in Vermont, and diversification makes us more resilient' (WEDNESDAY, September 18, 2019) Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Wednesday announced that the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) will soon receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create regional a Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. Leahy, a leading member of the Agriculture Committee, helped lead the effort to authorize the new dairy innovation program in the 2018 Farm Bill. Through the appropriations process, he secured initial funding for the program in the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill, which was signed into law earlier this year. The Farm Bill directed USDA to create at least three regionally located initiatives across the country. Vermont was selected to host one of the initiatives through a competitive grant-making process. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday will consider the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill to fund the USDA. Leahy has worked to secure an additional $20 million to support the three initiatives in that bill. If advanced by the Committee, it will need to be approved by the Senate, the House, and ultimately signed by the President. Once established, VAAFM will work in Vermont and support work in surrounding states to provide technical and financial assistance to help dairy producers diversify their products, demonstrate innovative on-farm production practices, and adapt to emerging market trends, with the overall goal of improving dairy farm viability. Leahy said: I have made this a top priority on both the Agriculture and Appropriations Committees because this is a crucial time for dairy prod… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-vice-chairman-leahy-d-vt-opposing-the-motion-to-proceed-to-hr-2470- Statement of Vice Chairman Leahy (D-Vt.) Opposing the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 2470 2019-09-18 2019 2019-09 Democrat House VT Patrick Leahy L000174 www.leahy.senate.gov     legacy 09.18.19 Statement of Vice Chairman Leahy (D-Vt.) Opposing the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 2470 Today, we will vote on whether to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2470, the House Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Energy and Water, and the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bills. I strongly urge Senators to vote no. The underlying House bills are good bills. If this were a vote to consider the House bills, it would be easy. But that is not what we are doing. Senator McConnell has made clear that H.R. 2470 is simply a vehicle for consideration of the Senate Defense Appropriations bill, a partisan bill that was reported out of Committee on party lines, which he will offer as a substitute once we proceed to the underlying House bills. Leader McConnell will also offer as part of the substitute the Energy & Water Appropriations bill, as well as the State, Foreign Operations, and Labor-HHS and Education bills. These last two bills have never even been considered by the Committee. They were pulled from the Committee markup last week, because Republicans were afraid to vote on amendments that would have received bipartisan support. Is that how we are operating now? Things get complicated and difficult so we just skip parts of the legislative process? This is no way to proceed. Not one Democrat on the Appropriations Committee voted for the Defense bill. Not one. Because, as written, it does nothing to prevent the President from stealing billions of dollars more from our troops to pay for the President's cynical campaign promise to build a gigantic wall across our southern border. The President has already raided $6.1 billion from Department of Defense (DOD) accounts in the fiscal year 2019 bills for his border wall all without congressional approval. First he diverted $2.5 billion from the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act for the wall using standard transfer authority we provide the Department of Defense. We provide this authority to ensure that D… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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