url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-priorities-signed-law-part-omnibus-government-funding-bill,Welch Priorities Signed Into Law As Part Of Omnibus Government Funding Bill,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed into law on Sunday night a government funding bill that included energy efficiency provisions championed by Representative Peter Welch, and an important Medicaid fraud bill that he introduced this Congress. The bill also funds the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2021. The legislation includes several provisions Welch led during the 116th Congress that are now law. Specifically, it includes the following Welch-led energy efficiency initiatives: Provisions from the Biomass Thermal Utilization (BTU) Act (H.R. 1479) to incentivize the use of energy efficient wood boilers, stoves and heaters through tax credits for capital costs incurred in residential installations. Provisions to provide rebates for energy efficient motors and transformers, streamline energy efficiency programs and financing for schools, and reduce energy usage at data centers. These provisions come from the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (H.R. 3962) introduced by Welch this Congress. The Energy Savings Through Public Private Partnership Act (H.R. 3079) to require federal agencies to implement previously identified energy efficiency upgrades and to use performance contracting to ensure energy savings and save taxpayer dollars. Core parts of the Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act (H.R. 5650), which authorizes, for the first time, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) at $36 million through fiscal year 2025. The Small Building Acceleration Act (H.R. 2044) to facilitate the transition to energy-saving smart buildings by supporting research and documenting the costs and benefits of emerging technologies in private and federal government buildings. Provisions to develop a national plan for smart manufacturing technology development and deployment to improve domestic manufacturing sector productivity and efficiency. This is similar to parts of The Smart Manufacturing Leadership Act (H.R. 1633), introduced by Welch this Congress. The Combined Heat and Power Support Act (H.R. 1480), which creates a Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership Program and encourages the deployment of CHP, waste heat to power, and efficient district energy. In addition, the spending legislation included a Welch bill to combat Medicaid fraud and abuse and protect those served by the program from being exploited. The legislation, H.R. 3891, would fix a loophole that prohibited state Medicaid Fraud Control Units to pursue waste and abuse in non-institutional settings, like home health care. The bill is strongly supported by Vermont State Attorney General T.J. Donovan. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sen-warren-and-rep-welch-lead-letter-trump-administration-failure,Sen. Warren and Rep. Welch Lead Letter on Trump Administration Failure to Address Millions of Orphan Oil and Gas Wells That Continue to Emit Methane and Toxic Chemicals,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, DC -- United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led a letter to Secretary of the Interior (DOI) David Bernhardt about the Bureau of Land Management's failure to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for plugging millions of abandoned oil and gas wells on public lands, which continue to leak dangerous chemicals like methane and endanger both the environment and public health. The letter is also signed by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.). The federal government estimates that there are more than three million abandoned oil and gas wells across the United States, two million of which are unplugged and are releasing ""the methane equivalent of the annual emissions from more than 1.5 million cars."" These abandoned wells can contaminate groundwater and emit volatile and hazardous compounds, posing significant environmental and public health risks. Leaking methane is particularly dangerous, since methane ""pound for pound can warm the planet more than 80 times as much as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period."" In 2018 and 2019, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) laid out recommendations for how the Bureau of Land Management can track and manage the wells. But the Trump administration largely ignored and even hampered efforts to hold Big Oil and franking firms accountable by weakening environmental laws like the Methane Rule, which would have helped the government compel oil and gas companies to plug their wells, but instead freed these companies from the need to detect and repair methane leaks. ""Implementing the GAO recommendations is a bare minimum action that the Interior Department and its agencies can take to address the growing number of orphan and abandoned wells and their associated environmental health and safety risks. Congress and the American public deserve an explanation as to why your agency has refused to do so in a timely manner,"" wrote Senator Warren and Representative Welch. Their letter notes that the Trump administration's inaction paired with oil companies' financial strain during the pandemic have exacerbated the problem, making it unlikely that bankrupt or struggling companies will pay to plug these abandoned wells that threaten the lives and livelihoods of surrounding communities. This shunts the financial responsibility of hundreds of millions of dollars to states and represents a lost opportunity to create good-paying jobs -- paid for by oil companies -- to close the wells while also boosting the economy. ""Plugging these orphan and abandoned wells would reduce the threats that they pose to human health and the environment, and could create thousands of new jobs during the pandemic-caused recession,"" the lawmakers wrote. Their letter to DOI requests updated information about the DOI's plans to implement the recommendations from the GAO and the steps it is taking to assist states in addressing these dangerous orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells before the impending end of the Trump administration. ""The American public deserves an Interior Department that will resolve problems that fall under its jurisdiction,"" wrote the lawmakers. ""Without decisive action, the number of oil and gas wells... will only continue to grow."" Senator Warren has called for an outright ban on fossil fuel extraction in public lands and waters and has previously raised concerns about abandoned industry sites that pose serious threats to local communities and exacerbate the climate crisis. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sanders-leahy-welch-applaud-dam-repair-funding-vermont,"Sanders, Leahy, Welch Applaud Dam-Repair Funding for Vermont",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced that legislation passed by Congress last night will fund critical water infrastructure projects, including three aging flood-control dams. The Vermont delegation also announced that the state of Vermont has signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make much-needed repairs to the Waterbury Dam. The project will begin in early 2021, using $40 million in federal funding secured by the delegation. The America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, to be signed into law today, includes language first authored by Senator Sanders in 2016 in the Water Resources Development Act. This year, the amendment authored by Sanders in the Senate and Welch in the House increases the authorization of federal funding to $60 million each for safety improvements at certain state-owned flood control dams constructed by the federal government before 1940. In Vermont, three dams the Waterbury, East Barre and Wrightsville dams are eligible to receive funding under this provision. These dams are essential pieces of Vermont's infrastructure, said Sanders, who is a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the water infrastructure legislation. Maintaining and repairing the dams especially the Waterbury Dam has long been a priority for our state. This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward rebuilding aging dams in Vermont and throughout the United States. Leahy, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said: I have been proud to secure funding for the Waterbury Dam through the appropriations process, and I'm pleased to see the increased spending authorized by this legislation at the request of Senator Sanders and Congressman Welch.Those funds may be very helpful if the cost exceeds the $40 million already appropriated for work on this critical project, and funds may also be needed for work to the other eligible Vermont dams. I was proud to secure federal support to allow the state to begin this important, but expensive, safety and infrastructure project, said Welch, who secured authorization language in the House. With these funds, the state of Vermont will be able to complete these critical repairs with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a perfect example of a local project that deserves federal support to protect public safety, improve environmental quality, and enhance recreational opportunities in the area for years to come. The Waterbury Dam Spillway Refurbishment project is a major public safety and environmental restoration priority for Vermont, said Peter Walke, Commissioner of Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation. We are grateful for the support of Vermont's Congressional Delegation for securing a $40M federal appropriation for the project, and to the US Army Corps of Engineers for supporting this project at the national and local level. My team will be working in tight coordination with the Army Corps to get this project started early in 2021. The federal government built the Waterbury, East Barre and Wrightsville dams in the 1930s after the devastating 1927 flood caused massive destruction and loss of life in the Winooski River basin from Central Vermont to Burlington. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, and the Civilian Construction Corps built, the three flood-control dams on tributaries of the Winooski River to reduce the risk of future flooding. The federal government later transferred ownership of the dams to the state of Vermont, but did not include any provisions for the maintenance of the dams. The Waterbury Dam, in particular, now has major repair needs, due to this lack of support from the federal government. The Vermont Congressional delegation remains committed to passing aggressive water infrastructure funding next year, including critical provisions to improve drinking water, which was passed this year by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/daines-leahy-bipartisan-bill-promoting-affordable-health-insurance-passes-senate-heads-to-presidents-desk-,"Daines, Leahy Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance Passes Senate, Heads to Presidents Desk",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20 Daines, Leahy Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance Passes Senate, Heads to President's Desk . . . . Bill prevents health insurance companies from price fixing, collusion U.S. SENATE U.S.Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.) announced that their bipartisan bill promoting access to affordable health care by increasing transparency and enhancing consumer protections in the health insurance passed the U.S. Senate and will be headed to the President's desk to be signed into law. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act willensure that health insurance issuers are subject to the same federal antitrust laws prohibiting unfair trade practices, such as price fixing and collusion, as virtually every other industry in our economy. Our bipartisan bill will allow for greater transparency and oversight into the health insurance industry and help make health insurance more affordable for Montanans and Americans across the country. I look forward to this commonsense bill being signed into law, Daines said. While ordinary Americans are suffering through an unprecedented, deadly pandemic, multi-billion dollar health insurance companies are boasting record-high profits. It makes little sense that these powerful actors should also benefit from an antiquated exemption in the law shielding them from all scrutiny and oversight by our federal antitrust authorities. Our overwhelmingly bipartisan bill would simply subject health insurance providers to our federal antitrust laws just like every other major sector of the American economy. This is a commonsense bill that promotes competition and protects consumers, and I hope President Trumpswiftly signs it into law.Leahy said. The bipartisan billamends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to restore the application of federal antitrust laws to the health insurance industry, but does not otherwise interfere with or impact the authority of state authorities to regulate health insurance provided under the act. This bill will help address instances of artificially higher premiums, unfair insurance restrictions, and harmful policy exclusions. Background: On February 19th, 2019, Senators Steve Daines and Patrick Leahyintroduced the bipartisanlegislation. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/sanders-leahy-welch-applaud-dam-repair-funding-for-vermont,"Sanders, Leahy, Welch Applaud Dam-Repair Funding For Vermont",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20 Sanders, Leahy, Welch Applaud Dam-Repair Funding For Vermont WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced that legislation passed by Congress last night will fund critical water infrastructure projects, including three aging flood-control dams. The Vermont delegation also announced that the state of Vermont has signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make much-needed repairs to the Waterbury Dam. The project will begin in early 2021, using $40 million in federal funding secured by the delegation. The America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, to be signed into law today, includes language first authored by Senator Sanders in 2016 in the Water Resources Development Act. This year, the amendment authored by Sanders in the Senate and Welch in the House increases the authorization of federal funding to $60 million each for safety improvements at certain state-owned flood control dams constructed by the federal government before 1940. In Vermont, three dams the Waterbury, East Barre and Wrightsville dams are eligible to receive funding under this provision. These dams are essential pieces of Vermont's infrastructure, said Sanders, who is a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the water infrastructure legislation. Maintaining and repairing the dams especially the Waterbury Dam has long been a priority for our state. This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward rebuilding aging dams in Vermont and throughout the United States. Leahy, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said: I have been proud to secure funding for the Waterbury Dam through the appropriations process, and I'm pleased to see the increased spending authorized by this legislation at the request of Senator Sanders and Congressman Welch.Those funds may be very helpful if the cost exceeds the $40 million already appropriated for work on this critical project, and funds may also be needed for work to the other eligible Vermont dams. I was proud to secure federal support to allow the state to begin this important, but expensive, safety and infrastructure project, said Welch, who secured authorization language in the House. With these funds, the state of Vermont will be able to complete these critical repairs with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a perfect example of a local project that deserves federal support to protect public safety, improve environmental quality, and enhance recreational opportunities in the area for years to come. The Waterbury Dam Spillway Refurbishment project is a major public safety and environmental restoration priority for Vermont, said Peter Walke, Commissioner of Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation. We are grateful for the support of Vermont's Congressional Delegation for securing a $40M federal appropriation for the project, and to the US Army Corps of Engineers for supporting this project at the national and local level. My team will be working in tight coordination with the Army Corps to get this project started early in 2021. The federal government built the Waterbury, East Barre and Wrightsville dams in the 1930s after the devastating 1927 flood caused massive destruction and loss of life in the Winooski River basin from Central Vermont to Burlington. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, and the Civilian Construction Corps built, the three flood-control dams on tributaries of the Winooski River to reduce the risk of future flooding. The federal government later transferred ownership of the dams to the state of Vermont, but did not include any provisions for the maintenance of the dams. The Waterbury Dam, in particular, now has major repair needs, due to this lack of support from the federal government. The Vermont Congressional delegation remains committed to passing aggressive water infrastructure funding next year, including critical provisions to improve drinking water, which was passed this year by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-supports-passage-900-billion-covid-relief-compromise,Welch Supports Passage of $900 Billion COVID Relief Compromise,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch voted on Monday to pass a $900 billion bipartisan bill to deliver immediate relief to Americans suffering because of the coronavirus pandemic. The bill includes significant relief for families, individuals, small businesses, schools, and healthcare providers. It also includes robust funding for vaccine distribution and COVID testing and tracing. This compromise is not the perfect bill, but it's critical and long overdue. I supported this relief bill because it will provide a lifeline to individuals, families, and small businesses who have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic going into a brutal winter, said Welch. Though this bill does not go nearly far enough, the relief is immediate and necessary, including additional unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs, direct payments to help keep Americans afloat during this difficult time, increased food benefits for hungry families and additional aid for our small businesses. Vermonters need significantly more aid to get through this pandemic, while we wait for vaccines to be widely available. I will continue to fight for more resources for Vermont in the new Congress to help us get back on our feet and build back better. The relief package includes the Save Our Stages (SOS) Act, authored and championed by Welch, which will create a $15 billion grant program for independent performance venues that have been forced to close due to the pandemic. In addition, the $900 billion bill includes: $300 a week expanded federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation for 10 weeks for those who have lost their jobs. $600 direct payments for every individual making up to $75,000 a year or $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 per year plus $600 per child. For example, a family of four would receive $2,400. A 15% increase in individual Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, known as 3SquaresVT in Vermont. $284 billion in additional PPP funds for small businesses devastated by the pandemic. $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium through January 2021. $20 billion to purchase additional vaccine doses and $9 billion for vaccine distribution. $22 billion for states to institute rigorous testing, tracing and mitigation practices. $54.3 billion for K-12 public schools to implement additional safety improvements during the pandemic. $22 billion for non-profit public and private colleges and universities. $10 billion for child care assistance. $7 billion in total broadband funding: $3.2 billion for low income families to access broadband, $300 million to fund rural broadband buildout, $250 million for telehealth services, and $65 million to properly map broadband service across the country. More than $11 billion in direct aid for agricultural producers. $3 billion to support healthcare organizations providing care on the frontlines of the pandemic. $4.5 billion for mental health services. An extension allowing CARES Act funds to be used through December 2021, a provision championed by Welch. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/appropriations-vice-chair-leahy-announces-vermont-highlights-of-govt-funding-bill,Appropriations Vice Chair Leahy Announces **VERMONT HIGHLIGHTS** Of Govt. Funding Bill,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20 Appropriations Vice Chair Leahy Announces **VERMONT HIGHLIGHTS** Of Govt. Funding Bill WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Dec. 21, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday evening announced key Vermont highlights of the bipartisan agreement to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2021, which includes the COVID relief package to provide relief to the thousands of Vermonters suffering during an unprecedented health and economic crisis. As the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy secured several key priorities for Vermont in the fiscal year 2021 spending package. The overall bill which includes the 12 annual Appropriations bills that fund the federal government totals more than $2.3 trillion in funding for programs across the federal government and efforts to combat the pandemic and provide relief to the American people. Leahy said: The Omnibus Appropriations Bill is the product of hard work and compromise, and Vermonters can be proud of what is in this package. From expanding broadband access and stimulating economic development and job creation, to investing in our great Lake Champlain and Vermont's dairy industry, to providing help for those who continue struggling with the scourge of opioids, it will provide desperately needed relief to Vermonters and invests in our communities. In terms of COVID relief, the direct payments included in this package are a fraction of what they should be after months of obstruction and delay by Republican leadership, but it is a start, and I will continue to fight for the help that Vermonters need and deserve. The agreement includes significant investments across Vermont and the nation in education and early childhood programs, substance abuse and mental health services, food and nutrition programs, and increases for housing and homeless services to help those who are the most vulnerable. The relief package to address the ongoing pandemic includes extensions of pandemic unemployment programs through March, direct payments to qualifying individuals and families of $600, and makes critical investments in education, transit and the nation's health systems. It invests $325 billion in small businesses, including allowing many small businesses to access a second draw from the popular Payroll Protection Program. The package also provides billions of dollars to support vaccine production and distribution, as well as contact tracing. It also makes investments in broadband expansion. It provides billions for schools so that when kids and teachers return to school they can do it safely. A full summary of the Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill is available HERE. Leahy's full statement is available HERE. Vermont Highlights Of The Omnibus Appropriations Package Since becoming the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy has placed Vermont at the center of negotiations on the annual government funding bills. His efforts have significantly increased the resources available to and investments in Vermont, including a 241 percent increase in funding for the Lake Champlain Program. Key priorities secured by Leahy in this package include: Broadband: Nearly 20 percent of Vermont households lack access to modern broadband connection speeds. Broadband access can grow rural economies and connect our communities. The coronavirus pandemic has brought to light major gaps in access, from sustaining and building small businesses to allowing citizens their day in court. Leahy secured new language in the bill to allow Vermont communities that were not previously eligible to apply for ReConnect loans and grants. The bill includes $635 million for the ReConnect program to expand access to high-speed broadband to unserved and under-served rural areas. This is especially important as our country faces an unprecedented health and economic crisis when many families rely on broadband for work, school, and access to justice. Lake Champlain: Lake Champlain is the crown jewel of Vermont's rich environmental treasures. It has world-class warm and cold water fisheries and spectacular scenery, provides drinking water for more than 200,000 people, and is the economic engine that drives the region. Since becoming Vice Chairman, Leahy has increased funding for the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain by 241 percent. The bill includes $15 million for these programs, which is $1.5 million more than fiscal year 2020. Food Systems Center: Leahy worked closely with the University of Vermont to establish a Food Systems Center in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Centers to research how local, regional, and global food systems can provide nutritious and culturally appropriate food, regardless of individual life circumstances. The bill includes $11 million for this center, which is a $6 million increase over fiscal year 2020. Dairy Business Innovation Center: Vermont hosts one of three dairy innovation centers that Leahy helped to establish in the 2018 Farm Bill. Vermont's center provides technical and financial assistance that helps 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. The Dairy Business Innovation Initiative is funded at $22 million, which is a $2 million increase over fiscal year 2020. Farm to School: The Farm to School grant program was authored by Leahy in the 2010 Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act and modeled after Vermont's successful farm to school program. The bill includes $12 million for the program, which has now reached more than 33,000 schools across the country. This is a $3 million increase over fiscal year 2020. These grants will help Vermont farms increase their sales to local schools and promote lifelong healthy eating habits among Vermont's students. Rural Centers of Excellence On Substance Use Disorders: Rural areas like those in Vermont face unique challenges in confronting addiction, including a higher rate of lethal overdoses. In 2019, Leahy authored language in the Labor-HHS Appropriations Act to establish three Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders, including the center hosted by the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont Medical Center. The center supports Hub and Spoke, Community Reinforcement Approach, technical assistance, education and outreach, and other evidence-based methods to address the opioid epidemic in rural communities. The bill includes $10 million for the centers. Noise Abatement: The bill includes new funds to help mitigate noise caused by military aircraft and language secured by Leahy to ensure that the communities surrounding Burlington International Airport have access to these funds. The bill includes $50 million for the program. Innovation eVTOL: Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) technology is an expanding field with the potential to provide inexpensive and efficient transportation. The bill includes $25 million in new funding to support the Air Force Agility Prime innovative acquisition program in developing this new technology, which companies like Burlington's BETA Technologies can access. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/merkley-colleagues-push-22-financial-services-companies-to-prioritize-american-health-safety-economic-security-by-not-insuring-arctic-drilling-,"Merkley, Colleagues Push 22 Financial Services Companies to Prioritize American Health, Safety, Economic Security by Not Insuring Arctic Drilling",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20 Merkley, Colleagues Push 22 Financial Services Companies to Prioritize American Health, Safety, Economic Security by Not Insuring Arctic Drilling WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to press executives of 22 financial services companies to not insure any oil and gas developments in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, citing significant financial risk, catastrophic damage to one of the world's most delicate ecosystems, and the acceleration of climate chaos. The senators' letterswhich were sent to AIG, Allianz, Aviva, AXIS, Chubb, CNA, Generali, Liberty Mutual, Lloyd's, Markel, Munich Re, QBE, RLI, SCOR, Sompo, Swiss Re, Talanx, The Hartford, Tokio Marine, Travelers, WR Berkley, and Zurich Cantonal Bankfollow a series of efforts by the Trump administration to auction off Arctic Refuge oil and gas leases in the coming weeks before the Biden administration is sworn in. The Arctic is on the frontline of climate crisis, warming at three times the rate of the rest of the world. Fossil fuel extraction in these areas risks exacerbating climate chaos and irreparably damaging the local environment, the lawmakers wrote. In addition to highlighting the detrimental impacts of boosting the use of fossil fuels on the future of our planet, the senators emphasized the financial risks of investing in Arctic oil extractionrisks that have led 27 major financial institutions, including five major American banks, to decide not to invest in Arctic oil and gas development projects. Oil and gas development in the Arctic is increasingly financially risky. Arctic drilling operations would face extreme and treacherous conditions with severely limited access to respond to an oil spill or an accident. The environmental, social, and governance factors linked with these developments will likely expose your company to unnecessary reputation, legal, and financial risk, they continued. In light of their grave concerns, the senators requested that the companies not insure the exploration, production, or transportation of oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; implement a formal policy prohibiting new insurance products or the extension of existing insurance productssuch as surety bonds, commercial multiple peril insurance, and reinsuranceto cover Arctic oil and gas projects; and rule out investments in companies involved in Arctic Refuge development. The lawmakers requested that these new policies and announcements be made publicly, and that the executives inform the lawmakers of the actions they take regarding the requests by December 31. The full text of the letter is available here and follows below. ### As you may be aware, the Trump Administration recently finalized plans to sell oil leases in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the final days of their administration. Any companies interested in leasing in the Arctic Refuge will be looking for new insurance coverage for their planned developments. Exploring drilling in the Arctic Refuge is financially risky given the historic low of oil prices and the transition away from fossil fuels happening around the world. We ask that you put the health and safety of the planet and the people dependent upon the Arctic Refuge first and not insure any oil and gas developments in the Arctic Refuge. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the world's most delicate ecosystems. It is a sacred space to the Gwich'in people and has supported the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous populations and subsistence hunters for thousands of years. It is also home to endangered species such as bowhead whales, polar bears, and ringed seals and it supports critically important fisheries and migratory birds. The Arctic is on the frontline of climate crisis, warming at three times the rate of the rest of the world. Fossil fuel extraction in these areas risks exacerbating climate chaos and irreparably damaging the local environment. Oil and gas development in the Arctic is increasingly financially risky. Arctic drilling operations would face extreme and treacherous conditions with severely limited access to respond to an oil spill or an accident. The environmental, social, and governance factors linked with these developments will likely expose your company to unnecessary reputation, legal, and financial risk. In light of this financial risk 27 major financial institutions,[1] including five major American banks, have already decided not to invest in oil and gas development in the Arctic. In addition, this development is fraught with legal challenges. There are four active lawsuits challenging the Arctic Refuge leasing program including multiple complaints filed by several tribal communities who depend on the Arctic Refuge and its natural resources to sustain their communities, cultures, and ways of life. We ask that your company: Not insure the exploration, production, or transportation of oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Implement a formal policy prohibiting new insurance products or the extension of existing insurance contracts to cover the exploration, production, or transportation of oil and gas in the Arctic Refuge, including surety bonds, commercial multiple peril insurance, and reinsurance; Rule out investments in companies involved in Arctic Refuge development and those that do not have policies prohibiting their own involvement in the Arctic Refuge; and Make these new policies and announcements open to the public. We request that you consider the policy changes listed above regarding oil and gas development for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the health and safety of the communities it serves. Please respond to inform us about the actions you take regarding our requests by December 31st. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, [1] https://www.banktrack.org/campaign/banks_and_arctic_oil_and_gas",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-fy-2021-omnibus-appropriations-bills-and-covid-relief-package,Statement On FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bills And COVID Relief Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20 Statement On FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bills And COVID Relief Package . . . . Senate Floor After months of delay and painstaking negotiation, this afternoon we will have before us a spending package that includes all 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2021, and a vitally important COVID relief package. It provides funding for programs that are critically important to the American people, and I urge its swift passage. We are already 2 months and 20 days into the fiscal year. We cannot delay further. As Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to reach agreement on this omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year, without relying on a long-term continuing resolution. This was no easy task. The budget caps were very lean this year, providing a less than one percent increase in non-defense discretionary spending to meet the needs of a nation reeling from the worst public health pandemic in a century. This would have been difficult under ordinary circumstances, but was made even more difficult given the global health and economic crisis we face. Yet, within this tight topline, we have produced a bill that provides important increases in programs that serve the American people and invest in our economy. Importantly, this bill drives the final stake through the heart of the Trump Administration's effort to substantially diminish the role of government in helping Americans in need and promoting economic growth. President Trump's first budget proposed to substantially diminish the role of government, proposing to cut non-defense spending by 9 percent in fiscal year 2018, and 18 percent by 2021. He proposed to completely eliminate programs millions of Americans rely on every day, such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME, Legal Services Corporation, Food for Peace, Community Services Block Grant, and Community Development Banks. He proposed deep cuts for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), environmental programs, nutrition programs, rental assistance, and foreign assistance. Notwithstanding the President's promises to invest in infrastructure, he proposed deep cuts in transit, Amtrak, Essential Air Service, and Clean and Safe Drinking Water grants. For four years, Congress, on a bipartisan basis, rightly rejected these ill-conceived, arbitrary, and reckless cuts. And this year we do the same. This agreement is the product of weeks of hard work and compromise. This is not the bill I would have written on my own. It includes things I support and things I oppose. But on balance, passage of this bill is unquestionably in the interest of the American people. The omnibus spending bill includes increases for education and early childhood programs. It provides more funding for substance abuse and mental health services, services that are of the utmost importance in these extremely difficult times. It provides more for food assistance programs both at home and abroad, assistance that is desperately needed as many families struggle to survive during this pandemic. And it includes increases for housing and homelessness services to help those who are the most vulnerable. These are all programs that Democrats fought hard to include. Every member in this chamber has something in this omnibus that they can take home to their constituents. Vermonters can be proud of what is in this package, too. At long last, this bill will expand access to critical broadband funding for Vermont, which, since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed in 2009, has been unable to tap critical federal resources to help bring reliable Internet access to the entire State. Never more than now has the lack of reliable, high-speed Internet been felt more starkly in the rural corners of Vermont. There's much more. Like other industries, the dairy industry across the country is struggling. This bill makes many investments in dairy innovation centers, one of which is established in Vermont, to improve the economic viability and resilience of dairy producers. It invests in the continued cleanup of Lake Champlain, the crown jewel of Vermont. It supports the Northern Border Regional Commission, which spurs economic development and job creation, and, thanks to dedicated funding, this year, will support broadband initiatives in Vermont, and neighboring New York, New Hampshire and Maine. And we continue to provide the tools needed by so many communities in Vermont and across the nation as they grapple with a worsening opioid epidemic and record fatal drug overdoses. These are just a few of the important federal programs included in the omnibus spending bill that will support Vermont, our economy, and our communities. While I support this agreement, I am deeply disappointed that the Congress is so unforgivably late in completing our work. There is absolutely no reason why this bill could not have been finished months ago. The Senate Appropriations Committee failed to mark up a single Appropriations bill this year, and the Senate never considered a single appropriations bill on the floor. This is unacceptable. Members of this body want and deserve a voice in what goes into these bills on behalf of their constituents and we must give them that opportunity. We must do better in the 117th Congress. I thank Chairman Shelby, Chairwoman Lowey, and Ranking Member Granger for their cooperation and partnership as we worked through our differences on the omnibus spending bill, and I urge all members to support it. Also before us today is a much-delayed COVID relief package. It, too, is the product of bipartisan compromise, and while it falls short in some critical areas, I support the agreement. This package is also long overdue. The American people have been waiting for help for far too long as the Republican leadership took a wait and see approach. For 270 days, Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans have blocked every reasonable attempt to provide desperately needed relief. Instead, they focused their time and energy on packing the Federal courts with far-right extremist judges. In the meantime, millions of American families have suffered needlessly. This package is far from perfect, but time is not on our side and we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This bill provides much-needed investments in our economy with support for small businesses. It provides relief for unemployed workers by extending unemployment benefits into March. It makes investments in vaccine production and distribution. It supports health providers, educators, farmers and transportation providers. It provides critical investments to expand broadband in rural and low-income areas, access which is vitally important in these difficult times when many schools and businesses are only operating remotely. It also includes another round of direct payments to millions of Americans still struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, feed their families, heat their homes, and meet their monthly obligations. At my urging this bill also includes $4 billion in emergency funding for The GAVI Alliance, for the procurement and delivery of vaccines to countries around the world whose rudimentary public health systems are being overwhelmed by COVID-19, and whose economies are in free fall due to the virus. Global health experts say more is needed, but this is a welcome and good first step. This significant infusion of funds will enable GAVI to immediately begin ratcheting up its response in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We cannot defeat this global pandemic, and international travel and commerce will not recover, without fighting the virus overseas. Millions of Americans are living, traveling, and working abroad. If the virus is spreading anywhere, it threatens people everywhere. I support this package. But let me be clear this COVID bill is only a first step. We must do more. Vermonters, and the American people, need more. The direct payments included in this package are but a fraction of what we should have provided given the dire financial situation of millions of people across this nation. People are hungry. Unemployment continues to plague our economies. Families are struggling to pay their rent and put food on the table. I will continue to fight for more. State and local governments have laid off over 1.3 million teachers, first responders and other employees since March. They need our help. Tragically, rates of spousal abuse and child abuse have increased during the crisis and we should be providing funds for Violence Against Women Act and child abuse prevention grants. Vermonters are facing the coldest, darkest months of winter and are struggling to heat their homes, and families need help paying their utility bills through the LIHEAP program. We are making progress in delivering a vaccine to the American people, but this pandemic is far from over. I will be the first at the negotiating table to work with President Biden in the 117th Congress to address the many needs that remain unmet in this bill. I urge all members of this chamber to vote aye when the bill comes over from the house today. And I yield the floor. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/vice-chairman-leahy-releases-fiscal-year-2021-omnibus-appropriations-bill,Vice Chairman Leahy Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20 Vice Chairman Leahy Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill WASHINGTON (Monday, Dec. 21, 2020) Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday released the $1.4 trillion fiscal year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Leahy said: This agreement is the product of weeks of hard work and compromise. This is not the bill I would have written on my own. It includes things I support and things I oppose. But on balance, passage of this bill is unquestionably in the interest of the American people, and both the House and the Senate should act on it quickly. Leahy's full statement is available HERE. The bill includes critical funding for programs that help grow our economy and support working families. Importantly, it includes increased funding for education, early childhood programs, mental health services, and desperately needed food assistance programs to help families struggling in this unprecedented health and economic crisis. It provides increases for affordable housing and homelessness services to help those who are most vulnerable, especially in these uncertain times. Democrats fought for these increases and they would not be available under a continuing resolution. A full summary of the bill is available HERE. Bill text is available HERE. A breakdown by Appropriations Subcommittee is available below: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior and Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Programs Legislative Branch Military Construction and VA State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies Transportation, Housing and Urban Development A summary of the much needed COVID Relief Package, as produced by the Senate Minority Leader's office, is available HERE. # # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-attorney-general-william-barr-and-the-future-of-the-department-of-justice-senate-floor,Statement On Attorney General William Barr And The Future Of The Department Of Justice Senate Floor,2020-12-19,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.19.20 Statement On Attorney General William Barr And The Future Of The Department Of Justice Senate Floor As William Barr's second tenure as Attorney General is coming to an end, it is important for the Senate to reflect upon his legacy, and upon the challenges now facing the Department of Justice. The Office of Attorney General fills a unique role within our system of government. Created by the Judiciary Act of 1789, an Attorney General is not a traditional member of the President's cabinet. As Supreme Court Justice James Iredell observed in 1792, the position is not called the Attorney General of the President, but Attorney General of the United States. This is because an Attorney General's client is not the president, but the American people. An Attorney General's duty is not to defend the president, but to uphold the rule of law and do so with integrity and independence. President Trump has a very different view. He views the Office of Attorney General as an extension of his political power, to be wielded like a weapon to further his agenda. He believes it exists to benefit him personally, to target his opponents and protect him and his friends. His view stands in stark contrast to everything the Attorney General is supposed to represent. It came as no surprise, then, that during his nomination hearing Mr. Barr was questioned about which type of Attorney General he would be: the president's lawyer, or an impartial pursuer of justice. He was adamant that while he may sympathize with the President's policy choices, his role as a policy advisor would be distinct from that of the nation's chief law enforcement officer. If confirmed, he assured us, his job would not be to protect the President. Thirty years ago I voted for Mr. Barr to serve as Attorney General to then-President George H.W. Bush. I had my disagreements with him then, several in fact. But when I heard in late 2018 that President Trump intended to nominate him for a second tenure as Attorney General, I was hopeful. After the short, yet disastrous tenure of an unqualified Acting Attorney General who eagerly bent to the will of President Trump, I was hopeful that Mr. Barr would restore some independence to the office. After careful consideration, however, I voted no on his confirmation. Mr. Barr has long-held, expansive views of executive power. Prior to his nomination, he shared those views with the President in a bizarre, 19-page memorandum making the case that a president can obstruct a criminal investigation with near impunity. It was clear to me that Mr. Barr's views would be weaponized by President Trump, a man who derides any limits on his authority. The President, I said at the time, needed a much tighter leash. By any measure, the last two years have been worse than I feared. Time and again, Attorney General Barr has acted in the best interests of Donald Trump, not the country. He has intervened and overruled career prosecutors only in cases to benefit the President and his friends. He has departed from Department norms, misrepresented the Department's work, and eroded public trust in the Department as a result. I will speak to just a handful of examples. United States v. Roger Stone In late 2019, a jury convicted former Trump campaign advisor Roger Stone for obstructing a bipartisan congressional investigation, lying under oath, and witness tampering. Consistent with sentencing guidelines, prosecutors recommended a seven to nine-year sentence. President Trump immediately took to Twitter to criticize the prosecution. Attorney General Barr intervened just hours later, overruling the prosecutors and disregarding the sentencing guidelines. What happened next reminded me of something Judge Michael Mukasey said when testifying in support of Mr. Barr at his confirmation hearing. Judge Mukasey said if Mr. Barr ever failed to serve with independence, he would find a mound of resignations on his desk. Well, in this instance, all four career prosecutors withdrew from the case. Two resigned from the Justice Department altogether. At sentencing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson took the rare step of defending both the career prosecutors and their sentencing recommendation, stating that it was true to the record and in accordance with law and DOJ policy. Attorney General Barr's intervention left me with one question: Could anyone other than the President's close friend a man who, according to Judge Jackson, was prosecuted for covering up for the President receive such leniency from the Attorney General? United States v. Flynn Then there is former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The Attorney General's intervention in the Flynn case went a step further: Despite the fact that Flynn had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, Barr's Justice Department moved to dismiss the case altogether, prompting the lead prosecutor to withdraw. The sentencing judge, Emmet Sullivan, ordered a review of the motion to drop the charges, and appointed a former federal judge, John Gleeson, to serve as an amicus curiae. Judge Gleeson did not mince words: He advised the court that Barr's grounds for seeking dismissal were conclusively disproven and amounted to an unconvincing effort to disguise as legitimate a decision to dismiss that is based solely on the fact that Flynn is a political ally of President Trump. Not long after President Trump fully pardoned Flynn. The Mueller Report Many of Attorney General Barr's departures from Department norms originated with his now-infamous handling of the Special Counsel's report on Russian interference. The Mueller report amounted to a 448 page presentment of misconduct that reached the highest levels of the Trump campaign and administration. Yet the Attorney General's summary of the report the only information he allowed the public to see for weeks left Americans with the opposite impression: that the report effectively exonerated the President. Special Counsel Mueller wrote to the Attorney General at the time, concerned that the Attorney General failed to capture his conclusions and created confusion that undermined public confidence in the investigation. Indeed, that appears to have been the Attorney General's intent. Many others agree. Federal Judge Reggie Walton wrote that the inconsistencies between his statements and the report cause the Court to seriously question whether Attorney General Barr made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller Report in favor of President Trump despite certain findings in the redacted version of the Mueller Report to the contrary. That statement, from a sitting federal judge about a sitting Attorney General, is as damning as it gets. Soon after, the Attorney General began falsely claiming that the investigation was started without any basis and was politically motivated. This is despite the fact that an exhaustive Inspector General's report refuted both claims. The Attorney General was not content with simply mischaracterizing the Russia investigation. He launched counter-investigations into the Justice Department's own investigators. He personally travelled to Italy in a desperate attempt to dig up exculpatory evidence. Ignoring Department policies, he regularly commented on the ongoing investigation led by U.S. Attorney John Durham. Documents from the Durham investigation were even shared with the White House, according to the President's chief of staff. Then Durham's top aide abruptly resigned, reportedly due to pressure to release their findings before the election. The Attorney General did all of this while ignoring a subpoena from the House of Representatives to obtain an unredacted copy of the Mueller report. Impeding Congressional Oversight In fact, Attorney General Barr has evaded transparency and impeded once-standard congressional oversight no matter the topic. He refused to testify before the House. He was held in contempt for refusing to respond to House subpoenas related to the administration's pretextual justification for adding a citizenship question to the Census. He supported efforts to cover-up the President's Ukraine scandal, for which the President was impeached. He supported the unprecedented purging of multiple inspectors general. And he rebuffed congressional oversight at every turn. This may not bother my Republican friends now. But the political winds have already shifted. And it harms all of us when congressional prerogatives are so blatantly disregarded. Defending Trump Personally While Attorney General Barr has defended President Trump at seemingly every turn, he went a step further in September by attempting to literally defend the President's personal interests. The Attorney General moved to intervene and dismiss a civil defamation case that alleged that the President lied about a decades-old sexual assault. A federal court flatly rejected the attempt. Lafayette Square Protestors Attorney General Barr's interventions on behalf of the President extended beyond legal issues, to PR issues as well. At the height of a national reckoning on issues of racial injustice, the White House stated that it was the Attorney General who ordered the clearing of peaceful protestors at Lafayette Square. Barr denied he gave the order, but did not deny that he encouraged it. Peaceful protestors were cleared with rubber bullets and tear gas so that the President could stage a photo-op in front of St. John's Church. It was a grotesque display of unnecessary force. Sowing Doubt About the Election Most recently, the Attorney General's obedience to the President resulted in him falsely claiming that mail-in ballots used since the Civil War and relied upon by millions of Americans during this pandemic opened the floodgates to widespread fraud. Voting experts described his claims as farcical. In echoing the President's conspiracy theories, the Attorney General revealed how little he knew about basic election laws and the safeguards in place. His apparent intent was not to inform the public, but to sow doubt among the public in the integrity of their vote. Attorney General Barr then re-wrote the Department's policy on election-related investigations, prompting the head of the Department's Election Crimes Branch to resign his post in protest. Need For New Leadership For each of these actions, Attorney General Barr was publicly badgered by President Trump to act. It may be that Attorney General Barr believes he withstood the pressure. There may be some lines that he declined to cross such as fabricating evidence of widespread voter fraud. But we must never excuse the many lines that he did cross. Critically, when a President pressures an Attorney General to serve their personal interests, it is all the more incumbent on the nation's top law enforcement officer to avoid any appearance of impropriety, and to refuse the request not meet him half way. It brings me no joy to say this. I have known Attorney General Barr for a long time. But he has failed in his duty to impartially and equally uphold the rule of law. The Attorney General represents the United States, and all of its 330 million Americans. Too often, Attorney General Barr represented the interests of just one. By serving as a yes man when the law, the country, and the Department needed him to say no, Attorney General Barr has damaged the hallowed office he has temporarily occupied. Now the hard work to repair the damage must begin. In November, the American people elected to take the country in a different direction. I served alongside President-Elect Biden for decades in the Senate and on the Judiciary Committee. He understands the unique role of the Justice Department. He will not rely on it to do his personal bidding. No matter who the President-Elect chooses as the next Attorney General, I have no doubt that he or she will operate with the utmost integrity, guided by the law and the facts. As we begin to close the book on this dark chapter in our nation's history with a pandemic that has left more than 310,000 Americans dead, and with the outgoing President's relentless attacks on the foundations of our democracy I am hopeful that brighter days are ahead. I am confident we will have leaders focused on following the evidence, adhering to the rule of law, pursuing equal justice, and acting in the best interests of the nation, not just of one man. The thousands of hardworking and dedicated men and women of the Justice Department deserve at least this much. As do all Americans. And indeed the founding principles and traditions of the 230 year-old Office of the Attorney General demand nothing less. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-clarke-introduce-national-renewable-energy-and-efficiency-standard,"Welch, Clarke Introduce National Renewable Energy and Efficiency Standard Legislation",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) today introduced legislation creating a national renewable energy and energy efficiency standard that aims to reduce carbon emissions and drive the deployment of clean energy resources around the country. As Members of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees energy and environment policy, Welch and Clarke will be pushing for this legislation to be a central component of any climate legislation in the upcoming Congress. We are in a climate emergency, yet the United States is lagging behind on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources.These resources will be critical to facing this crisis head on guaranteeing the next generation sustainable energy production, Welch said. This legislation charts a new energy future where energy efficiency and renewable technologies are put to work creating jobs, saving money and combating the climate crisis. I'm proud to be co-leading this critically important legislation with Congressman Welch that sets nation-wide mandates for renewable energy deployment and energy-efficiency measures, Clarke said. It's past time for the federal government to step up and lead the nation in the fight against climate change, and that is exactly what our legislation sets out to do by setting clear and aggressive renewable energy targets as we move towards a zero-emission electricity sector. In addition to tackling the climate crisis, our legislation will also trigger much needed investments in clean energy jobs and infrastructure, particularly in disadvantaged communities and areas that are transitioning away from dirty sources of energy. The American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act would require electric utilities, by 2030, to obtain at least 55 percent of their electricity supply from renewable sources, achieve a 22 percent reduction in electricity use and a 14 percent reduction in natural gas use by 2035. Supporters of the legislation include American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), E4TheFuture, Building Performance Association, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), and the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC). A technical factsheet on the bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/patents-for-humanity-legislation-championed-by-leahy-and-grassley-passes-senate-unanimously-and-heads-to-presidents-desk-for-signature,"Patents For Humanity Legislation, Championed By Leahy And Grassley, Passes Senate Unanimously And Heads To Presidents Desk For Signature",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.20 Patents For Humanity Legislation, Championed By Leahy And Grassley, Passes Senate Unanimously And Heads To President's Desk For Signature . . . Bill Would Codify Program That Encourages And Rewards Use Of Patented Technology To Tackle Humanitarian Needs WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16, 2020) -- The Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act, authored and long championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday night. This 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 long 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 and sanitation, 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 both spoke at the virtual 2020 awards ceremony. Details on the 2020 award winners can be found here. Leahy and Grassley have introduced similar legislation in the past, and in the 114th Congress the bill passed the Senate unanimously. In this Congress, for the first time, an identical bill was introduced in the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), which passed the House by voice vote in June. This legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent Tuesday night, and the bill will now make its way to President Trump to be signed into law. Leahy said: We are now one step closer to codifying and improving the Patents for Humanity program, which has a proven track record of addressing some of the most pressing global needs. The program illuminates our commitment to be the example for the world in intellectual property, and I'm hopeful the President will quickly sign this legislation into law. Leahy added, I am also thankful for Senator Grassley's partnership on this issue over the years, and I also want to also thank Congresswoman Lucy McBath for leading the House companion legislation, as well as USPTO Director Andre Iancu for his support for the legislation and his commitment to this program. Grassley said: American innovators are not only a driving force behind our economy, their work product often helps to make the world a better place. By enhancing the Patent and Trademark Office's Patents for Humanity program, this legislation will incentivize and reward innovators for using their talents to help individuals and communities in need across the globe. Having passed the House and now the Senate, I look forward to this bill's quick enactment into law. Additional background on the USPTO Patents for Humanity Program is available online. Text of the Leahy-Grassley bill is also available online. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle (w/Leahy), 301-872-0665 Taylor Foy (w/Grassley), 202-224-6708 Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-fy2021-national-defense-authorization-actconference-report,Statement On The FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.20 Statement On The FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report . . . . Congressional Record Mr. President, the Senate has before it today the result of a compromise. The conference report that will result in the adoption of the National Defense Authorization Act NDAAfor fiscal year 2021 is neither the bill the Senate approved, nor the one the House passed. I am pleased that this conference report cures many of the problems that led to my vote to oppose the Senate bill. Specifically, the conference report is void of the authority for funds to support testing of a new nuclear device, which was included in the Senate bill. This sends an important message to the world about Congress's support for U.S. leadership in armed control. Further, the conference report advances the progress we have made with regard to Vietnam. This NDAA sends a clear message that Congress believes in the importance of cooperation with Vietnam, both to advance our shared security interests and to address some of the worst consequences of that war. The conference report will extend the authorization for the Department of Defense to help decontaminate the Bien Hoa Airbase from the lingering poison of dioxin, and it includes new authorization to help the Government of Vietnam locate and identify some of its hundreds of thousands of MIAs, as they have helped us locate our own MIAs over so many years. The bill will also help the veterans of that war who were exposed to dioxin. The expansion of presumption of exposure included in this bill will mean that Americans suffering from a number of linked ailments can spend their time seeking treatment, rather than jumping through bureaucratic and legal hoops. For many veterans exposed to airborne toxic substances through burn pits, this bill also includes a number of provisions to make it easier to identify their exposure and for them to make connections needed while seeking medical care. It continues the march towards rectifying the Department of Defense's PFOS/ PFOA usage. While there is much to be done in both these areas, this is a positive step forward. This bill is imperfect, but of particular concern to me is the addition in conference, without proper vetting or evaluation, of several provisions that undermine the Freedom of Information Act, our Nation's premier transparency law. Many of these provisions were in neither the Senate nor the House bill. For a number of years, I have worked in a bipartisan manner with other members of the Judiciary Committee to consult with the Senate Armed Services Committee to provide the feedback and expertise in FOIA matters, as it relates to proposals within the NDAA. That inclusive process, where committees of jurisdiction are consulted on their areas of expertise, has ensured that the NDAA does not become a vehicle for unwise or harmful policies. This time, however, a number of provisions needlessly piercing holes in FOIA were inserted during conference negotiations without any consultation with the Judiciary Committee. Unsurprisingly, a process that took place behind closed doors resulted in policies undermining the American people's ability to know what their government is doing. Unfortunately, this is slowly becoming a routine practice, and it must not happen again. I want to put everyone on notice: I will insist that the Judiciary Committee and those of us who worked for many years on these matters are consulted on provisions that fall within the purview of our committee before they are included in the NDAA. That consultation process has produced good outcomes for the American people for years. Let's not change it now. With these concerns in mind, on balance, this is a defense authorization bill that I will support. It advances our efforts to reconcile with our history and address the naming of our military bases after Confederate generals, something over which the President inexplicably threatened to veto the bill. It rejects the President's demands to repeal section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, something that advances his personal war, but which demands careful consideration and should not be used as hostage bait. This conference report authorizes over $740 billion in spending. The defense of our Nation and our international role in providing security and promoting stability demand significant investments. I hope, however, that in future years, Congress will thoughtfully consider the skewed balance of our defense investments against other critical domestic needs. These are difficult questions, but ones that demand debate and honest review. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/klobuchar-leahy-introduce-jamal-khashoggi-press-freedom-accountability-act-,"Klobuchar, Leahy Introduce Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.20 Klobuchar, Leahy Introduce Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act . . . . Honoring the memory of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, legislation would ensure governments that commit human rights abuses against journalists are held accountable by the United States WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced legislation to ensure governments that commit human rights against journalists abuses are held accountable by the United States. It is widely believed that Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and resident of the U.S., was murdered in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul under orders from the Saudi government because of his writings in opposition to Saudi government policies. To help protect journalists across the world, the Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act would place targeted sanctions, restrict foreign aid, and increase reporting on human rights abuses committed against journalists by foreign governments. We must ensure that journalists in the United States and around the world are able to do their jobs without fear of harm, Klobuchar said. It is unacceptable to suppress, imprison, and violently target the press, and the Jamal Khashoggi Act would ensure that the United States holds foreign governments who attempt to do so accountable. It is shocking that journalists today in many countries are increasingly the targets of harassment, threats, wrongful imprisonment, and assassination, Leahy said. Jamal Khashoggi's gruesome murder shined a spotlight on the peril journalists face every day. It is why the United States, where a free press is the cornerstone of our democracy, should do everything possible to defend the rights and safety of journalists and ensure that those who seek to intimidate and silence the press are held accountable. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) leads companion legislation in the House of Representatives. This legislation, named in honor of the late Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, would build upon the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act to strengthen the United States' commitment to hold to account those who would target journalists for violence and persecution, said Rep. Adam Schiff. A free and independent media is essential for a free society, and the United States must stand with journalists around the world who risk their lives to expose corruption, to give expression to independent and critical voices, and to tell the difficult stories that must be told. I thank Senator Klobuchar for leading this important effort in the Senate. Senator Klobuchar's bill is an important step to expand accountability for those who commit violence against journalists worldwide, providing a measure of protection for the reporters who risk imprisonment, torture, and even death for the work they do every day discerning and reporting the facts, said Thomas O. Melia, Washington Director of PEN America. Enacting this bill will not only shore up the free press as a bulwark of global security and democracy; it will enhance accountability for those responsible for gross human rights violations against journalists."" The Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act is endorsed by Reporters Without Borders; PEN America; Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Freedom House and the Committee to Protect Journalists. The Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act will: Build upon the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act by requiring the Department of State to document electronic surveillance and online harassment against journalists in its annual human rights reports. Require the US government to place targeted sanctions against a foreign person if they commit a gross violation of human rights against a journalist. Restrict foreign aid to government entities in the event that a senior official commits a gross violation of human rights against a journalist. In October, Klobuchar and Leahy led a group of 10 senators in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging the Administration to increase its efforts to protect journalists around the world and hold foreign leaders accountable for suppressing freedom of the press. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/murphy-leahy-menendez-van-hollen-wyden-statement-on-sentencing-of-walid-fitaihi-in-saudi-arabia,"Murphy, Leahy, Menendez, Van Hollen, Wyden Statement On Sentencing Of Walid Fitaihi In Saudi Arabia",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.20 Murphy, Leahy, Menendez, Van Hollen, Wyden Statement On Sentencing Of Walid Fitaihi In Saudi Arabia WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), along with U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), on Thursday released the following statement on the sentencing of an American citizen, Walid Fitaihi, in Saudi Arabia: We are appalled that Walid Fitaihi has been sentenced to six years in prison by a Saudi court on politically motivated charges. We have repeatedly called for the release of Dr. Fitaihi since his arrest in 2017, and supported Secretary Pompeo's direct appeals to Saudi authorities to resolve his case. Unfortunately, the Saudi government has ignored these bipartisan appeals, despite clear implications for the U.S.-Saudi relationship, the senators said. The senators continued: Fitaihi is a dual American-Saudi citizen who was sentenced, in part, for the supposed crime of obtaining U.S. citizenship without permission from the Saudi government. He was also sentenced for offending foreign countries' with his peaceful speech on Twitter, where he posted messages in support of democratic protests across the Arab world in 2011. The Saudi government should immediately release Dr. Fitaihi, lift the travel ban on his family, and drop these baseless and politically motivated charges. The persecution of American citizens, which also includes the ongoing detention of Salah al Haidar and Bader al Ibrahim, is unacceptable. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-house-passage-of-a-one-week-continuing-resolution,Statement On House Passage Of A One Week Continuing Resolution,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.20 Statement On House Passage Of A One Week Continuing Resolution I am glad that the House passed a one week continuing resolution that will allow us the time we need to complete our work on full year appropriations bills, and I urge the Senate to take up and pass it as soon as possible. We cannot and will not allow government funding to lapse in the midst of an unprecedented health and economic crisis. Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Chairman Shelby, myself, and our staff, have been tirelessly working through the nights and the weekend to reach an agreement, and we will continue to do so. Time and again, appropriators have shown that we can reach a bipartisan compromise that funds the government and addresses the nation's priorities. I believe we are very close to reaching that compromise once again, and I look forward to continuing this work on behalf of my home state of Vermont and the American people. # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/house-passes-antitrust-whistleblower-protections-authored-by-grassley-leahy-,"House Passes Antitrust Whistleblower Protections Authored by Grassley, Leahy",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.20 House Passes Antitrust Whistleblower Protections Authored by Grassley, Leahy WASHINGTON(Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020) The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday passed legislation by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) granting protections to whistleblowers who shine a light on violations of antitrust laws. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, which unanimously passed the Senate last year, must now be signed by the President to become law. Competition is essential for a thriving, affordable and innovative marketplace. When our antitrust laws are violated, consumers are often left paying the price. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act encourages and shields from reprisal private sector employees to shine a light on activities that violate our antitrust laws. This bipartisan bill is an important step to safeguarding fair marketplaces as well as the whistleblowers who support them. It's earned broad support in both chambers of Congress, and I urge President Trump to sign it into law without delay, Grassley said. Our country has a proud history of protecting whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing, beginning when the Continental Congress unanimously passed the first whistleblower law 242 years ago. Today, Congress honors that longstanding tradition by unanimously passing the bipartisan Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act that I co-authored with Senator Grassley. In an era where dominant corporations aggressively seek to expand their profits and quash competitors, our laws should protect whistleblowers who take significant risks to report criminal antitrust violations like price fixing that undermine free and fair competition. That's exactly what our legislation would do. I urge President Trump to sign this commonsense, bipartisan bill into law without delay, Leahy said. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act extends whistleblower protections for employees who provide information to the Department of Justice related to criminal antitrust violations. The Senate unanimously passed a similar version of the legislation in 2013, 2015 and 2017. The Grassley-Leahy bill is based on recommendations from aGovernment Accountability Office reportreleased in July 2011. The bill allows an employee who believes he or she is the victim of retaliation to file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, and provides for that employee to be reinstated to their former status if the Secretary finds in their favor. Grassley and Leahy authored similar whistleblower statutes as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002. Additional original cosponsors of this bill include Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Text of theCriminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Actis availablehere. # # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-urgent-need-for-covid-relief,Statement On The Urgent Need For COVID Relief,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.20 Statement On The Urgent Need For COVID Relief . . . . Senate Floor It's been 321 days since the first COVID-19 case was reported in the United States. It's been 282 days since the first COVID-19 death was reported in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate in November was 6.7 percent, nearly double the rate in November of last year. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the country have closed, permanently, due to COVID. As of today, there are more than 14.8 million reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States one million more than just a week ago. More than 282,000 Americans have died. And it has been 256 days since the Senate passed the CARES Act. Two hundred and fifty-six days since the Senate acted in a comprehensive, meaningful way to address the real and mounting concerns and needs of our constituents. Healthcare workers and caregivers, business owners and employees, teachers and students all in need of support in these difficult and uncertain times. Families wrestling with heightened food insecurity, and the threat of eviction hanging over them. States strapped by budget shortfalls, forced to lay off thousands of employees. It's been 205 days since the House first passed the HEROES Act. And it's been 65 days since they stepped forward to offer a substantial compromise on the HEROES Act, and pass it again. And where does it sit? On the Republican Leader's desk, collecting dust, as the largest, and most significant bill in the McConnell legislative graveyard. Like millions of Americans, I am encouraged by the news in recent weeks that pharmaceutical companies are making significant progress in vaccine development. I am encouraged that some of those vaccines may be available as early as later this month. But let's not forget why we were able to develop vaccines so quickly it is because of long-standing federal investments in cutting edge research at the National Institutes of Health. NIH-funded research in genetic and genomic sequencing enabled the rapid and efficient pivot to COVID-19 research that led to the vaccine. This is the power of federal dollars, targeted to solve a national problem. And this is what we need more of now. The development of several promise vaccines is great news. But without a comprehensive plan in place and the resources to implement it how can we ensure vaccination is safe, effective, widely available, and free? It is a complete abdication of our responsibility as elected representatives that we have simply failed to act. Now, I know that my friends across the aisle will rush to the Floor, and blame Democrats for stalling their inadequate face-saving proposal that they went through the motions to bring forward before the elections. Sure, that proposal made some investments in small businesses, and provided some unemployment relief, albeit at significantly reduced levels. But it also tied educational relief to forcing kids back into the classroom, even when conditions were not safe to accommodate it. It failed to deliver on relief to state and local governments, which are continuing to try to provide essential services to their communities. It included nothing for Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), no funding for mental health service, no funding for nutrition assistance, not a dime for NIH research, and it failed to put forward a vigorous plan or investment in vaccination production and distribution. So what did it do? Create a shield for corporate misconduct. Republicans are more keen to shield corporate cronies than to work on behalf of the American people. It's a sham. And it's a shame. In my home state of Vermont, the Governor and state legislature, and mayors and town leaders across the state have taken bold moves to slow the spread of COVID. These moves which have resulted in lower instances of the virus than elsewhere in the country have not come without cost. Unemployment remains, and small businesses continue to struggle. And that says nothing of the personal hardships families are facing across our small state. One elderly woman called my office, expressing frustration with the President. She also told my staff that she's only been able to visit her husband, who is in a medical rehab facility, a couple of times during this pandemic, due to COVID restrictions. This isn't an anecdote it's a tragedy. In Vermont, the state and local governments are worrying about how to clear the roads this winter if COVID hits the plow crews. Snow removal isn't a luxury in Vermont in the winter it's a necessity. My staff has spoken with one Vermont mother who is raising a son with autism. With school systems strained to their limits, special education services have been sharply reduced. This will have lasting impacts on these students, both educationally and socially. And, for those facing challenges like addiction, depression, or mental health issues, or who were simply down on their luck before COVID hit earlier this year, access to vital resources like counseling or intervention has been made more complicated by COVID restrictions, often with tragic results. I have heard of one Vermonter who passed away, alone, in a motel room in Rutland in October. Battling mental health issues, he'd become homeless just as COVID struck earlier this year, and due to the risks of the virus, family and friends were unable to take him into their homes. This isn't just a story; it's a man's life. And there are so many more people out there facing the same struggles. We are seeing images of car lines at food banks stretching for miles as an unprecedented wave of food insecurity is washing over our country. In my state alone, one in every four Vermonters are now food insecure. Before this pandemic, it was already an unacceptable one in 10. We are asking children to learn without providing the necessary resources to their teachers, families to pay rent without their jobs, and people to deal with their chronic illnesses while our hospitals are all stretched to capacity. All of this while an unacceptable amount of people are unsure how they will put food on the table through the end of the week. It is unconscionable. And the leadership across the aisle here in the Senate says we only need a targeted approach, and they point to the stock market as proof? Nonsense. The economy will not recover until we vanquish the virus. It is that simple, and that basic. And people are suffering now. This is the cost of inaction. Inaction on real, comprehensive, bold COVID relief legislation. Now, with our backs against the wall with a funding deadline looming, we are racing to accomplish what should have been done months ago: annual appropriations bills to keep our government running. We must pass these bills before Congress adjourns this year so there are no disruptions in government services during this difficult time in our country. That would only exacerbate the growing problems facing many Americans today. But our annual appropriations bills are no substitute for the significant investment we need to confront this national and international emergency. We need a comprehensive COVID relief bill. It's time to get serious. Time is wasting. How many hours have we spent racing to confirm nomination after nomination, at the expense of everything else, including dealing with the emergency of this pandemic, while COVID cases soar and more and more people succumb to this virus? How much more time will the Senate waste, while American families and communities suffer? It's time for us to do our job. The American people are suffering enough. We shouldn't be adding to that strain by playing politics with these essential priorities. I am hearing from Vermonters, every day, worried about unemployment benefits, their children's education, their health or that of their loved ones, about food security, and about keeping their homes and paying their bills. The Senate, at its best, is the conscience of the nation. It's long past time we start acting like it. Two hundred and fifty-six days since the Senate took meaningful action. We shouldn't wait one day longer. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-of-senator-patrick-leahy-to-the-national-academies-of-sciences-report_assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies,"Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The National Academies Of Sciences Report, Assessment Of Illness In U.S. Government Employees And Their Families At Overseas Embassies",2020-12-06,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.06.20 Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The National Academies Of Science's Report, Assessment Of Illness In U.S. Government Employees And Their Families At Overseas Embassies This report, long awaited, was finally released because I and other Members of Congress insisted that the public, and especially the families of those afflicted, be able to read it. I thank the members of the NAS Standing Committee for the considerable time and effort they devoted to this vexing issue. Their report leads to several conclusions, including: Several Members of Congress, among others, who rushed to judgment when these illnesses were first reported and publicly accused the Cuban Government, did so without any evidence or factual basis. None of the investigations and studies that have occurred since then, including by the FBI and the NAS, produced evidence implicating the Cubans, yet they have never retracted those accusations. Secretary Pompeo slashed our Embassy staff in Havana to a skeleton crew, and kicked out most of the Cubans at their Embassy in Washington, while U.S. Embassies in China and elsewhere, despite similar incidents, have remained fully operational and no punitive action was taken. These incidents were exploited by the Trump Administration to buttress its punitive and cynical isolationist policy toward Cuba that has failed to achieve any of its objectives. The Trump Administration's handling of these incidents has been sluggish, superficial, disjointed, overly secretive, and infected by politics. They even denied the NAS Standing Committee access to relevant information. It is a textbook case of how not to respond to such a challenge, and it compounded the anguish of the afflicted U.S. Embassy personnel and their families. There are reasons to be seriously concerned with the safety of our Embassy personnel, wherever they are posted overseas, based on the findings and conclusions of this report. The Biden Administration should promptly consult with Congress on how to implement the NAS's recommendations, to ensure that our diplomats can carry out their essential functions in a manner that maximizes their safety and ensures that if incidents like this occur in the future they are responded to immediately, effectively, and in a coordinated manner. # # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-and-welch-encourage-vermont-dairy-farmers_to-enroll-in-safety-net-program-ahead-of-friday-dec-11-deadline,"Leahy, Sanders And Welch Encourage Vermont Dairy Farmers To Enroll In Safety-Net Program Ahead Of Friday, Dec. 11, Deadline",2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.20 Leahy, Sanders And Welch Encourage Vermont Dairy Farmers To Enroll In Safety-Net Program Ahead Of Friday, Dec. 11, Deadline (THURSDAY, Dec. 3, 2020) -- Vermont's congressional delegation Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and Representative Peter Welch (D) are encouraging Vermont dairy farmers to consider enrolling in theDairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, a voluntary safety net program created in the 2018 Farm Bill to help producers manage volatile milk prices and feed costs. The enrollment period for 2021 closes on Friday, December 11. In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders, and Welch said: Dairy farms are foundational to Vermont's rural economy and our producers have faced unprecedented challenges this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has constrained supply chains, disrupted markets, and injected significant volatility and uncertainty into dairy prices. As we have worked hard to secure urgent federal assistance for farmers to weather this storm, the importance of safety net programs like Dairy Margin Coverage cannot be overstated. Current dairy future prices are forecasting another challenging year in 2021 as the market continues to stabilize, and margins are expected to trigger DMC payments throughout much of the year. We encourage all Vermont dairy producers to talk to their cooperatives, contact their Farm Service Agency field offices, and to strongly consider enrolling in DMC by the December 11 deadline. To enroll in the DMC program for 2021, farmers must contact their county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Contact information is available from the FSA State Office at 356 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, (802) 658-2803,https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Vermont. Farmers can also find more information about DMC, including a decision tool, at FSA's Dairy Margin Coverage website. # # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-is-among-bipartisan-group-of-members-of-congress-to-file-supreme-court-amicus-brief-in-support-of-human-trafficking-victims,Leahy Is Among Bipartisan Group Of Members Of Congress To File Supreme Court Amicus Brief In Support Of Human Trafficking Victims,2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.01.20 Leahy Is Among Bipartisan Group Of Members Of Congress To File Supreme Court Amicus Brief In Support Of Human Trafficking Victims WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Dec. 1, 2020) U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) led a bipartisan group of 21 members of Congress, including Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), in filing an amicus brief supporting victims of human trafficking in their case against two corporations Nestl USA and Cargill alleged to have knowingly aided and abetted the abuse of child slaves trafficked to work on cacao farms in Cte d'Ivoire. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case today. In addition to Leahy, the brief was joined by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX), David Cicilline (D-RI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Tony Crdenas (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Nydia Velzquez (D-NY). The members of Congress's amicus brief focuses on the extensive and bipartisan efforts by Congress to eradicate human trafficking, forced labor, and all forms of modern day slavery, most notably through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA), authored by Rep. Smith. The legislation, passed by Congress in 2000 and strengthened through subsequent reauthorizations, criminalizes sex and labor trafficking, creates a federal civil remedy for victims of human trafficking, and expands the law to allow for civil and criminal liability for forced labor committed internationally. The amicus brief argues that the TVPRA is the correct guidepost to determine Congress' views on human trafficking and that the law does not preclude trafficking victims from bringing a lawsuit in the U.S. under the Alien Tort Statue (ATS), emphasizing that Congress intends the liability for those who benefit from trafficking and forced labor, explicitly including corporations, to be extensive. Any consideration of congressional policy must begin with the [Trafficking Victims Protection Act] the culmination of longstanding, bi-partisan congressional efforts to eradicate human trafficking and forced labor. The statute underscores Congress' determination that the prohibition of these crimes is specific, universal, and obligatory, the members of Congress wrote in their brief. [T]here is nothing in the TVPRA that would preclude recognition of a civil action for aiding and abetting child slavery under the ATS. The TVPRA's broad civil liability provision is one of Congress' many chosen tools in its battle against the global scourge of human trafficking, which Congress has zealously sought to combat. The amicus brief was filed in support of human trafficking victims in two ongoing lawsuits brought under the ATS, which enables federal courts to hear lawsuits filed by non-U.S. citizens for wrongs violating international law. In the original cases filed against Nestl USA and Cargill, former child slaves allege that they were trafficked from Mali to Cte d'Ivoire, forced to work without pay for twelve to fourteen hours a day, given minimal food and shelter, and subjected to physical abuse. Those who tried to escape say they were beaten and tortured. The full text of the amicus brief is available here. # # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-eighteenth-meeting-of-states-parties-to-the-mine-ban-treaty,Statement On The Eighteenth Meeting Of States Parties To The Mine Ban Treaty,2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.16.20 Statement On The Eighteenth Meeting Of States Parties To The Mine Ban Treaty I remember the sense of hope I felt on September 26, 1994, when President Bill Clinton, in a speech at the United Nations, called for ridding the world of anti-personnel landmines. It was heralded as a bold challenge by the world's only military superpower in response to the increasing global outrage about the carnage these inherently indiscriminate weapons were causing in dozens of countries, including landmines left by our own soldiers in wars long past. In furtherance of that goal, President Clinton announced that the Department of Defense would seek alternatives to anti-personnel mines that are triggered by the victim, often an innocent civilian. In the 26 years since that speech, 164 governments have joined the international treaty banning the production, use, export, and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines, and the number of mine casualties has plummeted. Billions of dollars have been spent largely by the United States to locate and destroy unexploded mines, and that costly, dangerous work continues in many countries. But despite this progress, each year thousands of people lose life or limb from these weapons which continue to be used in some armed conflicts today, mostly by irregular armed groups rather than government forces. The 18th Meeting of states parties to what is commonly called the Mine Ban Treaty begins today, but, regrettably, the United States which spends more on its armed forces than China, Russia, India, Germany, France, the UK, Japan and the next half dozen largest militaries combined may not be among the governments participating since it has not joined the treaty. In fact, under the Trump administration, the progress made under the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations to align our policy with the treaty was summarily reversed in February, with no prior consultation with other governments, humanitarian organizations, or Congress. That was done despite the fact that the United States has not used anti-personnel mines since 1992, has not exported them since 1992, and has not produced them since 1997. Not only that, the Defense Department never carried out President Clinton's directive to develop alternatives. In the past 26 years, they have invested trillions of dollars to build and procure weapons and delivery systems of astounding complexity, precision, and destructive power. NASA has operated robots on Mars and asteroids. Yet despite our extraordinary technological capabilities, the Pentagon has yet to field alternatives to anti-personnel landmines that are activated by a soldier against enemy combatants, rather than triggered by an unsuspecting child. It is long past time to put the United States on an irreversible path to join our NATO allies and scores of other governments and become a party to the Mine Ban Treaty. The incoming Biden-Harris administration can do that by reinstating the policy that was in place at the end of the Obama-Biden administration, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines except on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, it should direct the Pentagon to modify its strategies and tactics to eliminate the use of anti-personnel mines within three years so the United States can join the treaty no later than September 26, 2023, twenty-nine years after President Clinton's speech. By doing so, we and the world will take a giant step towards meeting his challenge and stigmatizing a weapon that, like IEDs and other booby traps, does not belong in the arsenals of civilized nations. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-urges-house-leadership-extend-deadline-state-and-local-governments,Welch Urges House Leadership to Extend Deadline for State and Local Governments to Use CARES Act Funds,2020-11-13,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch on Friday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) urging them to immediately extend the deadline for state and local governments to use funds appropriated by the CARES Act. Currently, the state and local relief funds from the CARES Act must be used, or forfeited, by December 30th, making it impossible to complete long-term recovery projects. In the letter, Welch encouraged leadership to consider a new deadline of December 31, 2021 as an immediate step Congress could take to provide critical relief to state and local governments. When the CARES Act became law on March 27th, 2020, we had hope that by the end of this year the worst of the pandemic would be behind us, said Welch in the letter. It isn't, unfortunately. And the needs we addressed in the CARES Act continue. By extending the date for use of the authorized funds, all states will have more flexibility and time to use them to meet the impacts of COVID-19. It would be extremely helpful to Vermont, where our Republican governor and Democratic legislature are working together to use those funds to help Vermonters through this crisis. In the letter, Welch notes that failing to extend the deadline to use these funds will halt broadband connectivity for more than 1,000 homes across Vermont, force the Vermont State College System to pay for $500,000 worth of testing equipment out of its own pocket and jeopardize safe housing this winter for those who may be homeless. In addition to these specific programs, Rep. Welch has heard of many more areas that will benefit from extending the CARES Act deadline during more than 100 calls with Vermont organizations and stakeholders across the state since the start of the pandemic. Full text of the letter ishere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-others-ask-trump-administration-to-suspend-all-federal-executions-during-transition-period,Leahy And Others Ask Trump Administration To Suspend All Federal Executions During Transition Period,2020-11-13,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.13.20 Leahy And Others Ask Trump Administration To Suspend All Federal Executions During Transition Period In less than three months, Trump Administration executed seven people more than the total number executed over the previous six decades; DOJ has scheduled another execution for November 19, and two more in December 2020. Leahy, Durbin, and Booker last year also introduced legislation to ban the use of the federal death penalty. (FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2020) -- U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Friday called on the Trump Administration to suspend all federal executions so the incoming Biden-Harris Administration can evaluate and determine the future use of the death penalty by the federal government. For more than 17 years, no federal death sentence was carried out. Then, in July 2020, Attorney General Bill Barr recklessly restarted federal executions. In less than three months, the Administration executed seven peoplemore than the total number executed over the previous six decades. The Department of Justice has scheduled another execution for November 19, and two more in December 2020. President-Elect Biden's plan for strengthening America's commitment to justice includes the elimination of the federal death penalty and Vice-President-Elect Harris is an original cosponsor of legislation we have introduced to eliminate the federal death penalty. A record number of Americans voted in favor of President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Elect Harris and they deserve an opportunity to implement their policy agenda without the Trump Administration rushing to take preemptive and irreversible steps, the lawmakers wrote in a letter to AG Barr. While you will remain in office for a few more weeks, going forward with executions in the weeks before the new administration takes office would be a grave injustice. Last year, Leahy, Durbin, Pressley and Booker introduced bicameral legislation to immediately ban the use of the death penalty by the federal government after AG Barr announced that federal executions will resume for the first time in more than 16 years. The death penalty is outlawed in 21 states, including Vermont, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Full text of today's letter is available here and below: November 13, 2020 Dear Attorney General Barr: We urge you to suspend all federal executions so the incoming Biden-Harris administration can evaluate and determine the future use of the death penalty by the federal government. The failure to do so will cause irrevocable injustice. For more than 17 years, no federal death sentence was carried out.[1] Then, in July 2020, you recklessly restarted federal executions.[2] In less than three months, the Administration executed seven peoplemore than the total number executed over the previous six decades.[3] The Department of Justice has scheduled another execution for November 19, and two more in December 2020.[4] The death penalty in America is disproportionately imposed on Black and brown people and low income people,[5] and at least 172 people sentenced to death have reportedly been exonerated after languishing for years on death row.[6] Despite clear flaws in the system, the Administration has aggressively pushed forward over objections from family members of victims and despite Eighth Amendment objections to the manner of execution.[7] President-Elect Biden's plan for strengthening America's commitment to justice includes the elimination of the federal death penalty and Vice-President-Elect Harris is an original cosponsor of legislation we have introduced to eliminate the federal death penalty.[8] A record number of Americans voted in favor of President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Elect Harris and they deserve an opportunity to implement their policy agenda without the Trump Administration rushing to take preemptive and irreversible steps. While you will remain in office for a few more weeks, going forward with executions in the weeks before the new administration takes office would be a grave injustice. We look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-the-release-of-the-fy-2021-senate-appropriations-bills-,Comment On The Release Of The FY 2021 Senate Appropriations Bills,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.10.20 Comment On The Release Of The FY 2021 Senate Appropriations Bills Today, Chairman Shelby released draft bills and explanatory statements for each of the twelve FY 2021 appropriations bills. Chairman Shelby and I agree on the importance of completing our work on the twelve bills before the continuing resolution expires on December 11. I am very disappointed that the majority chose to cancel Committee mark ups of the FY 2021 bills and that the bills were not considered by the full Senate, eliminating the ability of members to offer amendments. This is an important part of the process when developing legislation. It would have given all members a chance to weigh in and publicly debate these bills. That is our job as Senators. That is how a democracy is supposed to function, regardless of which party is in the majority. We should not be running away from the tough issues. However, our goal is to work with the House to conference all twelve appropriations bills and avert a government shutdown. We only have four weeks to do it. In order to accomplish our work, we need Senate bills to work from. The twelve bills being released by the Chairman on Tuesday will help us move forward in this process. Many of the bills were the result of bipartisan work, and I appreciate those areas where we were able to come to agreement. However, there are significant issues that we will want to address in negotiations with the House. The first is the need to address the coronavirus crisis in this country. This country is headed for a deadly winter and it is long past time for us to provide the resources the country needs to get this virus under control and our economy back open. These bills do not provide any such relief. It is imperative that we do what is necessary to stop this pandemic from spreading. Whether this takes the form of separate legislation, or additional emergency titles added onto these bills, I remain ready to do what is necessary to help a country in crisis. Secondly, there are a number of issues where I look forward to improving the draft bills in negotiations with the House, such as: The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill is woefully inadequate to meet today's challenges, even if we were not in a global pandemic. It underfunds education for our nation's students, eliminates or flat-funds critical safety net programs, and provides inadequate funding for child care programs. It fails to invest in our nation's outdated public health infrastructure, at a time when this funding is desperately needed to address the current pandemic and prepare for future public health crises. It also fails to protect women's health by leaving in place the Administration's gag order and ban on grant eligibility for Planned Parenthood and other similar health clinics that offer the full range of reproductive health services. The State and Foreign Operations bill cuts USAID international family planning even below last year's Senate levels, provides nothing for the United Nation's Population Fund, and includes the restrictive Mexico City Policy, this at a time when women's health is facing heightened threats due to COVID and access to modern family planning services is lacking in many countries. The Interior Appropriations bill provides inadequate funding for conservation and environmental protection programs at the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, including critical work to address climate change and implement and enforce bedrock environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. More funding is also needed to expand Tribal health care services and other programs that benefit American Indians and Alaska Natives whose communities are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus. The Homeland Security Appropriations bill again includes nearly $2 billion in wasteful spending on the President's wall at the Southern border. This additional funding is on top of the $15 billion American taxpayers have already paid toward a useless border wall money that could have been better invested elsewhere to address real homeland security needs, health care, infrastructure, and COVID-19 requirements. And the bills do nothing to rein in the President's ability to take money meant to support our troops and their families and divert it to the wall. The Homeland Security bill also funds ICE detention at a level that is simply unwarranted. Because the bill fails to accurately reflect ICE's detained population, which has decreased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency is essentially provided a slush fund for this administration's extreme enforcement and removal activities. The status quo is simply unacceptable for an agency that has continually failed in its responsibility to appropriately manage resources provided by Congress and failed to establish sensible priorities regarding which immigrants it should detain and remove. I look forward to working with Senate Republicans and our House counterparts to draft responsible bills that address the needs of our nation. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/the-thin-red-white-and-blue-line-thanks-to-the-election-workers-who-are-showing-the-resilience-of-our-democracy,"The Thin Red, White And Blue Line: Thanks To The Election Workers Who Are Showing The Resilience Of Our Democracy",2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.06.20 The Thin Red, White And Blue Line: Thanks To The Election Workers Who Are Showing The Resilience Of Our Democracy By Patrick Leahy The 2020 presidential election may be nearing an end but it is not yet over, and it will be months before we know the final results of some U.S. Senate races. But at a time of heightened divisiveness and disillusionment in our country, and in the midst of a worsening public health crisis unlike any the world has faced in more than 100 years, we should all take pride in the way that the thousands of poll workers, vote counters, and state officials have conducted themselves over these long days and nights. We have seen the best of America, as they have carried out their responsibilities with the utmost seriousness and care. They have not been intimidated by threats or baseless claims of fraud, even from the White House podium. They have not succumbed to impatience or pressure. They have followed their procedures methodically and meticulously, day after day, hour after hour. It is the best evidence that, at its core, our democracy is strong, despite relentless attempts by some, including President Trump and members of his family, to sow division and doubt, and even to incite violence.It is the American people, and only the people, who ultimately choose their leaders, by the simple act of voting. It is not rocket science. It requires marking a box, and, for mail-in ballots, sealing an envelope and dropping it in the mail. These procedures have been in place for decades. President Trump won in 2016 with the support of votes that were mailed in by absentee Republican voters, and in some states he won by the slimmest of margins. He voted in this election by mailing in his ballot, so it is ludicrous to impugn the integrity of others who mailed in their ballots. Each state counts those votes according to its own procedures, which vary from state to state. And that is what they are doing, as their laws require. There are multiple checks and redundancies in the processing of each ballot to minimize the chance of error. We can be proud that Vermont's Secretary of State Jim Condos has emerged as a national leader in providing clear guidance and strong leadership in defending the right to vote. One thing is clear: President Trump will again lose the popular vote by a decisive margin. And the reason for so many mail-in votes is obvious: the Covid pandemic. Unlike any time in U.S. history, President Trump has called for the vote counting to stop before all the votes are counted. This is what dictators do. They stop the count when they see they are losing. Thankfully, our president does not have that power. He is not a dictator and he is not above the law. Yet he has repeatedly insisted that only legal ballots should be counted. What is he talking about? If he has credible evidence of illegality, or even of significant, widespread errors in the counting, why hasn't the White House produced the evidence? If such evidence existed, they would be the first to produce it. They haven't, and that speaks volumes. The campaign for president lasted well over a year. The accurate counting of tens of millions of votes takes time. That time is nearing its conclusion, and we owe an immense debt of gratitude to the poll workers, election officials and ballot processors across the country for their dedication and vigilance. They are among democracy's foot soldiers our thin red, white, and blue line who are demonstrating the resilience of our democracy. # # # # # [Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is Vermont's senior U.S. senator.] Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-vermonts-dream-program-receives-125-million_to-mentor-youth-affected-by-opioid-and-drug-addiction,Leahy: Vermonts DREAM Program Receives $1.25 Million To Mentor Youth Affected By Opioid and Drug Addiction,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.30.20 Leahy: Vermont's DREAM Program Receives $1.25 Million To Mentor Youth Affected By Opioid and Drug Addiction . . . . Dept. of Justice Funding Will Expand Reach in Rural Communities (FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2020) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday announced that Vermont's DREAM program will receive a three-year, $1.25 million grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support peer mentoring for elementary-aged youths in rural communities whose lives have been affected by the opioid epidemic. This is the second such award made to Vermont mentoring programs since Leahy, as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to expand the program's eligibility to include rural states that have been hard hit by drug addiction. The change was first made in the fiscal year 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Leahy said: We know mentoring works, it can literally change lives. For a young person whose family life has been upended by the opioid epidemic, this kind of one-on-one connection can be a lifeline. It's even more critical now, as we see the increase in rural isolation brought on by the COVID pandemic. The Youth Initiative grant, administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), will help match high school mentors and elementary-aged mentees from rural communities across Vermont. DREAM, which works to close the opportunity gap that exists for many of Vermont's young people, seeks to boost educational expectations, grow personal aspirations and build trusting relationships through its mentor pairings. The program also works to provide supportive social environments that will reduce the likelihood of youths engaging in high-risk behaviors, including substance misuse. Through inequitable and often racialized systems, there is a growing socio-economic chasm in resources, life experiences and access to adult mentors for youth in low-income households, said Michael Foote, DREAM's executive director. We're thrilled to have this opportunity to reach more youth around Vermont and to help grow the mentoring movement, and we are incredibly grateful to our many partners who have helped us further develop this part of our mentoring work. Leahy, a longtime champion of youth mentoring programs, credited Vermont's strong network of mentor providers for the state's success in capturing these highly competitive grants. Last year, Vermont's Department of Children and Families, in partnership with MENTOR Vermont, was also awarded a three-year, $1.25 million DOJ grant to support mentoring in communities challenged by opioid use disorders. Leahy continued: These programs are reaching our most vulnerable young people, who are often living in underserved rural communities. I'm proud of the work being done in Vermont. We know how critical these social connections are during normal times, but they are even more critical now as our country, and the world, faces down a deadly pandemic. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/bipartisan-due-process-act-by-leahy-and-others-aims-to-protect-americans-from-asset-forfeiture_abuse,Bipartisan DUE PROCESS Act By Leahy And Others Aims To Protect Americans From Asset Forfeiture Abuse,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.29.20 Bipartisan DUE PROCESS Act By Leahy And Others Aims To Protect Americans From Asset Forfeiture Abuse WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 29, 2020) A bipartisan group of senators this week introduced legislation to protect property owners whose assets are seized by the federal government. The DUE PROCESS Act is sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Asset forfeiture laws are important and valuable tools for law enforcement to gain control over assets used to further terrorism and the drug trade, but as we've seen, they can also be abused. This bill is designed to protect the rights of people whose property has been seized without any judicial finding of wrongdoing. It's a step in the right direction to ensure that seizures happen in accordance with the law and that constitutional rights are protected, Grassley said. Asset forfeiture authorities are effective tools for law enforcement, but we have seen time and again these tools are ripe for abuse. Too often Americans do not receive notice that their property was seized, or the civil seizure is never connected to any charged criminal conduct. This legislation would affirm our commitment to Americans' most fundamental constitutional rights, ensuring that due process never takes a back seat to expediency, Leahy said. Requiring Americans to prove the government took their property improperly, rather than the government proving guilt, undermines our system of justice. Commonsense restraints on civil asset forfeiture are necessary for protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans. This legislation will provide needed safeguards for those whose assets have been unjustifiably seized without due cause or conviction, Crapo said. Due process is one of the pillars of our democracy. Seizing property without convicting or even charging the owners with a crime runs contrary to our principles. Our bill would ensure that property rights are respected and that law enforcement cannot abuse the tools used to combat terrorism and organized crime, Feinstein said. An earlier version of the bill was introduced in 2016, following a Judiciary Committee hearing that examined several concerns associated with law enforcement asset seizure policies and practices. The hearing identified gaps in procedural protections for property owners whose assets were seized despite the absence of criminal charges or convictions. Additionally, many individuals whose assets are seized don't know their rights and don't know how to proceed to challenge the seizure. To address these issues, the DUE PROCESS Act: Creates a right to a hearing in which the court must explain to the person whose property was seized what their rights are; Provides that property owners challenging seizure of assets who cannot afford lawyers will have them provided; Extends time periods to make a challenge to property seizures; Codifies a new IRS practice restricting asset forfeiture in structuring cases by ensuring that forfeiture is available in structuring cases only where the failure to report large cash transfers to a bank is done in furtherance of another crime; Overturns a Supreme Court decision in Kaley v. United States, which concerns criminal forfeiture, where assets are frozen prior to trial in order to be subject to forfeiture upon conviction. Under the DUE PROCESS Act, defendants will be able to seek a hearing to show that assets they are using to hire an attorney of their choice that would otherwise be frozen pending trial were not derived from the proceeds of the charged criminal activities. Legislative text of the DUE PROCESS Act is available HERE. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-confirmation-vote-of-to-be-justice-amy-barrett-the-masks-are-off,"Statement On Confirmation Vote Of To Be Justice Amy Barrett ""The Masks Are Off""",2020-10-25,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.25.20 Statement On Confirmation Vote Of To Be Justice Amy Barrett ""The Masks Are Off"" . . . . Senate Floor Just four weeks ago members of the Senate gathered just down the hallway in Statuary Hall. We gathered to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer, a woman who may have stood at just over five feet tall but was nonetheless a giant of the law. The nation grieved for her, not simply because she was a brilliant lawyer and justice, but because she was a fighter. And she fought for those who needed fighting for most Americans for whom the promise of America was still just a promise. I have spoken at length about what Justice Ginsburg meant to the struggle for equality for millions of Americans. I will not repeat those words today, except to say that Justice Ginsburg's life's work left our nation a more perfect union. We will forever be in her debt. A day after we gathered in Statuary Hall, with the nation in mourning and days before Justice Ginsburg was laid to rest with her husband in Arlington Cemetery the President held a celebratory ceremony to nominate her replacement. The masks were off at that Rose Garden ceremony, in more ways than one. Republicans made it clear they would stop at nothing to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before a presidential election just weeks away. Yes, the masks were off. From that moment, the confirmation process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been a caricature of illegitimacy. I will not dispute that it is the responsibility of this body to consider Justice Ginsburg's replacement to the Supreme Court. But this is not how we should do it. Not during such a polarizing time for our country, just one week from a presidential election after more than 57 million Americans have already voted. Not at the expense of every precedent and principle this institution once stood for. Not when doing so requires that half of the United States Senate go back on their word, contradicting every argument they once made about Supreme Court vacancies during an election year. Not when this sprint to confirm Judge Barrett gave the Judiciary Committee just two weeks to prepare for her hearings, when the Committee has afforded itself three times as long to vet other modern nominees to our nation's highest court. Not when records of Judge Barrett's undisclosed speeches and materials have continued to pour in, even after her hearings, revealing what a slipshod process this has been from start to finish. And not when the Senate is doing nothing nothing to pass a desperately needed COVID relief bill. Every senator knows in their heart this is wrong. Senator McConnell ramming this nomination through no matter the cost, while worrying about the politics of providing relief to millions of Americans suffering during this still-worsening pandemic which has left 225,000 Americans dead says everything one needs to know about the priorities of today's Republican Party. Yes, the masks are off. It's far from a secret why President Trump and Senate Republicans are hell-bent on confirming Judge Barrett before Election Day. All you have to do is look at the calendar: On November 10, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in California v. Texas, the Republican-led lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act. And Republicans see a Justice Barrett as an insurance policy to ensure there will be a five-vote majority to finally strike down the law. Judiciary Committee Republicans spent last week crying foul, complaining that it is fearmongering to claim that they see this vacancy as an opportunity to overturn the ACA. But fear mongering implies that we're not talking about the facts. So let's review some basic facts. It is the Republican Attorneys General who are asking the Court to throw out the entire ACA. Not just part of it all of it. It is the Trump Justice Department that has sided with the Republican-led lawsuit. And it is this Republican-led Senate, in a vote just weeks ago, that gave the greenlight to the Trump Justice Department to take this position a position that, if successful, would terminate health insurance for more than 20 million Americans, terminate the Medicaid expansion for 15 million more, and terminate protections for 130 million Americans with preexisting conditions. While disappointing, this Senate vote was hardly surprising. Republicans in Congress have now voted to repeal or gut the ACA at least 70 times seventy, as in seven-zero. As if Republicans could not be clearer about their intentions, just days ago President Trump was asked on national television about the fate of the ACA before the Supreme Court. He said: I hope that they end it. It'll be so good if they end it. Like Captain Ahab of Herman Melville's Moby Dick, Republicans have been single-mindedly obsessed with killing the ACA their great white whale since the moment the law was enacted. Having failed thus far in both Congress and the courts, they see Judge Barrett as the final harpoon to once and for all end the law. So when Republicans plead innocent and claim they have no intentions of taking away people's health care protections, Americans will remember that their actions speak much louder than their words. And Republicans have yet another horse in this race that is, the actual race for the White House and Congress. Always one to say the quiet part out loud, President Trump has repeatedly stated his expectation that his nominee will side with him in any election-related dispute. Baselessly claiming that Democrats have rigged the election and falsely labeling mail-in ballots as a scam, President Trump promises to challenge any election loss in the courts. That's why he says it's very important that we have nine justices. Another Republican on the Judiciary Committee has echoed the President, claiming that the entire reason they need Judge Barrett confirmed now is to ensure that no election-related dispute is deadlocked in a 4 to 4 decision. Mind you, I do not recall Republicans making this argument when they blocked Judge Merrick Garland from receiving a vote for eight months prior to the last presidential election. Just this week we've seen why Republicans are all of a sudden so anxious to have a ninth justice seated before Election Day. The Republican Party is waging an all-out war on voting in the courts right now, with the goal of disenfranchising as many minority, poor, elderly, vulnerable, and young voters as possible. Knowing that voters are relying on mail-in ballots in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Republicans are unapologetically fighting state and local attempts to make absentee voting easier. And it's clear that Republicans believe having Judge Barrett on the Court will help them to suppress the vote. Last week, deadlocked 4 to 4, the Supreme Court left in place a Pennsylvania Supreme Court order requiring officials to count absentee ballots received within three days of the election. Yesterday, anticipating Judge Barrett's imminent confirmation may tip the scale, the Pennsylvania Republican Party asked the Supreme Court to review the case again less than a week after losing the first time. Unfortunately, for her part, Judge Barrett said nothing during her hearings last week to assuage the American people that she would be anything but a greenlight for the deeply harmful, unpopular objectives of President Trump and Republicans. First and foremost, Judge Barrett repeatedly declined to distance herself from her litany of anti-ACA comments and writings. She also repeatedly declined to confirm whether she would follow Supreme Court precedent upholding the ACA. Judge Barrett once wrote: However cagey a justice may be at the nomination stage, her approach to the Constitution becomes evident in . . . [what] she writes. Using Judge Barrett's own standard, then, one cannot escape the conclusion that she will view the ACA as a Justice the same way she has always viewed the ACA: unconstitutional and unsalvageable. My concerns only grew when Judge Barrett refused to commit to recusing herself from any election-related disputes. President Trump has put Judge Barrett in an unenviable position by making it impossible for Americans not to question her impartiality should she vote in his favor in an election dispute. If a Justice Barrett votes to throw the election for President Trump, I fear not just the Court but our democracy itself would suffer an existential blow to its legitimacy. My concerns grew into alarm when Judge Barrett refused to affirm even the most basic tenets of our democracy. She would not affirm to me that a president must comply with a court order and the Supreme Court has the final word. She would not state whether the President can unilaterally postpone a presidential election, despite the law clearly stating he cannot. She would not affirm to me whether our Constitution contemplates a peaceful transition of power, despite the 20th Amendment laying out the procedures for precisely such a transition. And she would not state whether it is illegal to intimidate voters at the polls, despite federal law explicitly making voter intimidation a criminal offense. I've never seen a self-described originalist so hesitant to merely restate the plain text of our Constitution and laws. In fact, Judge Barrett refused to say much of anything about pretty much everything. She refused to answer over 100 questions during her hearings and over 150 written questions. She did so by spuriously invoking the so-called Ginsburg Rule, which falsely purports that the late Justice Ginsburg avoided answering any and all substantive questions during her confirmation hearings. Well, I participated in Justice Ginsburg's hearings. Justice Ginsburg gave detailed answers on a number of constitutional issues, including unequivocally affirming her belief that a woman's right to choose is central to her dignity. In all, Justice Ginsburg took clear positions on dozens and dozens of cases during her hearings. In stark contrast, Judge Barrett wouldn't even restate not even comment on or discuss, but just restate black letter law. I have never seen such top-to-bottom refusals to answer basic questions in the 16 Supreme Court confirmation hearings I have participated in. But in some ways, it was only fitting that a confirmation process that has been a caricature of illegitimacy concluded with such hearings. Hearings in which the nominee wouldn't even acknowledge that masks inhibit the spread of COVID-19, or that climate change is real, or that voter discrimination exists. I fear for what this means for the future of the Judiciary Committee's confirmation process, now that Republicans have reduced our Committee's role to a mindless rubberstamp of a President's nominees, just as they have diminished the Senate to a subordinate arm of the executive branch. The Republican argument for proceeding in this way, just one week from a presidential election, boils down to this: We have the votes, so anything goes. Yet, having the power to do something does not make it right. The damage that will be left in the wake of this confirmation will stain this body for generations. When the word of a senator is rendered meaningless, when the words Advice and Consent are rendered meaningless, then this institution will be rendered meaningless. Justice Ginsburg left us with a more equal and more perfect union. She stood up for the right to vote. She stood up for the environment, and for holding all those in power accountable. She stood up for the rights of women to be free from discrimination, to control their own bodies, and to be equal to men. She stood up for the rights of minorities, the rights of the LGBTQ community, and the rights of all those who have been marginalized. Judge Barrett, if confirmed, will not. Based on my review of her record and based on her testimony, I believe a Justice Barrett would set the clock back decades on all of the rights that Americans have fought so hard to achieve and protect. I have said that Justice Ginsburg would have dissented from this process. The least I can do is join her. I will vote no. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-and-democratic-colleagues-urge-devos-to-help-82-million-federal-student-loan-borrowers-currently-unable-to-access-relief,"Leahy, Sanders and Democratic Colleagues Urge DeVos to Help 8.2 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Currently Unable to Access Relief",2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.20 Leahy, Sanders and Democratic Colleagues Urge DeVos to Help 8.2 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Currently Unable to Access Relief 8.2 million federal student loan borrowers currently cannot access critical relief made available by the CARES Act, including a freeze on all payments, interest, and collections In a letter, Leahy, Sanders and 32 Senate Democrats urge DeVos to use her existing authority to make sure these struggling borrowers don't fall through the cracks (THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 2020) U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and 32 Senate Democrats sent a letter urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to ensure all struggling federal student borrowers can gain access to crucial federal relief. Since March, the CARES Act has provided forbearance, waived interest, and halted collections for borrowers whose student loans were directly held by the U.S. Department of Education. But, according to new information provided to Senator Murray by the Department, 8.2 million federal student loan borrowers currently cannot take advantage of this relief, because some or all of their loans do not quality. Of those borrowers, 4.4 million people are not receiving any relief, and 3.8 million people have a mix of loans that qualify and those that do not. To ensure that these borrowers don't continue to face unnecessary financial struggles and confusion, the senators urged Secretary DeVos to take immediate action to help them qualify for much-needed relief. The more than eight million student loan borrowers falling into donut holes of critical relief have missed out on needed benefits and suffered unnecessary complexity and confusion for more than six months, wrote the senators in the letter. It is essential that the Department immediately begin the targeted outreach and take the actions we are requesting. In the letter, the senators pressed Secretary DeVos to immediately reach out to borrowers currently missing out on relief and help them consolidate their loans into qualifying loans. They also urged Secretary DeVos to use her administrative authority to improve the consolidation process for borrowers by waiving restrictions and penalties during the national emergency. In addition to Senator Leahy and Senator Sanders, the letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (D-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR). The full letter is below and HERE. Dear Secretary DeVos: We write to ask that you take immediate steps to support federal student loan borrowers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and recent administrative action to extend it are automatically providing forbearance, waiving interest, and halting collections on student loans held directly by the U.S. Department of Education (Department) until at least December 31, 2020, this relief does not cover all federal student loan borrowers. The Department should take swift action to help borrowers with at least one qualifying loan gain access to full coverage. According to information provided by the Department, 8.2 million federal student loan borrowers do not have full relief because they fall into a complete or partial donut hole. Of those, 4.4 million borrowers are not receiving any relief under the CARES Act or administrative extension, and 3.8 million borrowers have a mix of loans that qualify and those that do not, resulting in confusion and unnecessary financial harm for them during a period of widespread economic disruption. All federal student loan borrowers should have access to the same relief. The Department has numerous tools at its disposal to contact the 3.8 million borrowers in a partial donut hole and help them get all of their loans covered by the CARES Act relief. For example, the Department can direct student loan servicers to proactively contact borrowers who fall into the partial donut hole and help them consolidate loans not held by the Department into Direct Loans, which qualify for relief. The Department can also improve the process of consolidation for borrowers through administrative action. The alternative relief options that have been provided by loan holders to some borrowers in the donut holes have been woefully inadequate. Temporary forbearance options that must be repeatedly requested by borrowers are far inferior to automatic and extended relief. Many borrowers also continue to accrue interest on these non-covered loans, potentially costing them hundreds or thousands of dollars. Consolidation is a straightforward solution to help some non-covered borrowers get access to the same benefits available to those with non-federally-held loans. A borrower with a commercially-held FFEL, school-held Perkins, or Public Health Service Act loan can generally consolidate such loan into a Direct Loan to obtain the automatic administrative forbearance, interest waiver, and halt to collections and negative credit reporting. In 2012, the Department successfully spurred widespread take-up of a special consolidation option by borrowers holding both commercial FFEL and Direct Loans. This time-limited opportunity offered a 0.5 percent interest rate reduction for borrowers who participated. In contrast, just six months of relief equivalent to the CARES Act offers a greater benefit to a typical borrower over the lifetime of a loan. The Department has an opportunity to follow the same playbook and unlock relief for millions of borrowers. The holders of non-covered loans have provided insufficient justification for failing to proactively notify borrowers of consolidation. While borrowers normally receive a trivial roundup of their interest rate to the nearest one-eighth of a percent from consolidation, all interest is currently being waived for covered loans and the value of this interest waiver would exceed the cost of the roundup for the vast majority of borrowers. Additionally, while borrowers could lose some credit toward income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness if they consolidate a loan they had previously been paying under an IDR plan, they do not have to consolidate loans that are already enrolled in IDR. Further, most borrowers are not enrolled in an IDR plan, meaning they would see no change in their timeline for IDR forgiveness because they do not have one. Finally, while a limited number of borrowers may have already consolidated all of their loans and are ineligible to consolidate again, borrowers have a number of exceptions to the restriction. For example, borrowers wish to become eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness can consolidate more than once, as can all 1.2 million borrowers with a commercial FFEL loan currently in default. Commercial FFEL borrowers who have defaulted are disproportionately harmed by the disparate treatment of non-covered loans; while defaulted borrowers with covered loans have been granted a reprieve from forced collections, these borrowers remain subject to wage garnishment and the offset of public benefits, including Social Security payments. Most importantly, the Department can easily take administrative action to suspend consolidation restrictions and penalties during the national emergency, such as the limitation on consolidating once, the reset of the forgiveness clock, and interest-rate roundup, using the same authority that was utilized to implement the President's August 8 Executive Order. Under Section 2(a)(1) of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003, the Secretary may waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial assistance programs under title IV. The Department should use this authority to waive all barriers to consolidation. Additionally, the Department should encourage the commercial FFEL entities, institutions holding Perkins Loans, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which collectively hold the 4.4 million loans completely un-covered by current relief, to initiate a similar outreach campaign to their borrowers. As Secretary, you retain significant authority and leadership over these entities, including the ongoing payment of taxpayer subsidies. You should quickly ask loan holders requesting to inform borrowers of their option to consolidate as a means to expediently receive the relief afforded by the CARES Act. The more than eight million student loan borrowers falling into donut holes of critical relief have missed out on needed benefits and suffered unnecessary complexity and confusion for more than six months. It is essential that the Department immediately begin the targeted outreach and take the actions we are requesting. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-democrats-denounce-trump-administrations-historically-low-refugee-resettlement-goal-and-push-for-increased-admissions,Senate Democrats Denounce Trump Administrations Historically Low Refugee Resettlement Goal And Push For Increased Admissions,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.20 Senate Democrats Denounce Trump Administration's Historically Low Refugee Resettlement Goal And Push For Increased Admissions WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 2020) Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by 22 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in opposing the Trump administration's proposal to cap refugee admissions at 15,000 for Fiscal Year 2021the lowest ceiling in the history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)and in urging the administration to increase refugee admissions. The United States has a long, bipartisan legacy of providing refugees protection through resettlementprior to 2016 we resettled an average of more than 80,000 refugees per year, the Senators wrote in a letter to Secretaries Michael Pompeo and Alex Azar and Under Secretary Chad Wolf. Yet, during this time of soaring global resettlement needs, this Administration has once again abdicated America's global leadership role by further reducing the refugee admissions ceiling to its lowest level in the 40-year history of the program. We urge you to substantially increase the refugee admissions target for FY 2021, and end the current suspension of the refugee resettlement program. The Senators highlighted the importance of a strong resettlement program, which serves as an essential lifeline for the most vulnerable among the 29.6 million refugees worldwide while also strengthening our communities and economy. In addition, the Senators affirmed the importance of U.S. leadership on resettlement as a powerful tool to garner greater global support for refugees facing persecution. American leadership in refugee resettlement is critical in securing greater global support for this important lifeline, which is available to less than one percent of all refugees, the Senators added.As this Administration has slashed its annual refugee admissions goals, other leading resettlement countries have followed suit and lowered their resettlement numbers as well. Joining Ranking Member Menendez in sending the letter were Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Coons (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). A copy of the letter may be found HERE and below. Dear Secretaries Pompeo and, Azar, and Under Secretary Wolf: We write to urgently express our concern regarding the President's report to Congress on the Proposed Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2021, which proposes a Presidential Determination of 15,000 refugees, a historical low since the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) was established in 1980. The United States has a long, bipartisan legacy of providing refugees protection through resettlementprior to 2016 we resettled an average of more than 80,000 refugees per year. Yet, during this time of soaring global resettlement needs, this Administration has once again abdicated America's global leadership role by further reducing the refugee admissions ceiling to its lowest level in the 40-year history of the program. We urge you to substantially increase the refugee admissions target for FY 2021, and end the current suspension of the refugee resettlement program. As we face unprecedented levels of forced displacement around the world, with 29.6 million refugees worldwide, resettlement serves as a critical lifeline for those fleeing persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Survivors of sexual violence and torture, unaccompanied children, families traumatized by the loss of loved ones in war, and other highly vulnerable refugees may need resettlement as the only solution to their plight. Refugees resettled in the United States contribute greatly to the communities that take them in. To that end, refugees have generated $63 billion in net revenue alone over a decade for the United States. In addition to advancing U.S. humanitarian objectives and economic interests, resettlement serves as an important foreign policy tool to support people facing oppression and human rights abuses. The United States' historical leadership on this issue has enhanced our global influence and demonstrated responsibility-sharing with refugee-hosting countries like Jordan, Uganda, and Bangladesh. Moreover, American leadership in refugee resettlement is critical in securing greater global support for this important lifeline, which is available to less than one percent of all refugees. As this Administration has slashed its annual refugee admissions goals, other leading resettlement countries have followed suit and lowered their resettlement numbers as well. A robust refugee admissions goal is necessary to ensure those under threat of persecution, like Hong Kongers fleeing political persecution in Hong Kong and refugees fleeing religious persecution in Iran, Iraq, and Myanmar, have a pathway to live freely and without abuse. For our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan, it means standing ready to help when under threat, just as they stood by our troops when we needed their help. We urge you to substantially increase the refugee admissions ceiling for FY 2021. The Administration should immediately end the suspension of the refugee resettlement program in order to ensure the world's most vulnerable will no longer remain in harm's way and separated from their families. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/stabenow-leahy-lead-call-for-usda-to-reverse-decision-to-decrease-covid-19-relief-available-to-dairy-farmers,"Stabenow, Leahy Lead Call For USDA To Reverse Decision To Decrease COVID-19 Relief Available To Dairy Farmers",2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.20 Stabenow, Leahy Lead Call For USDA To Reverse Decision To Decrease COVID-19 Relief Available To Dairy Farmers Washington Today, a group of 15 Senators led by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the most senior member of the Committee, called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to unfairly exclude dairy farmers from receiving COVID-19 relief to cover losses related to meat production. While milk is the primary income for dairy farms, they often are diversified operations with significant revenue coming from the meat of cows as they are retired from milking. In the original Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the USDA compensated dairy farmers and other livestock producers for losses related to meat produced from breeding animals. When USDA announced CFAP 2, the second version of the relief program, the Department made a significant change to exclude those losses. This change will affect the livestock industry and will be particularly harmful to dairy farmers who often operate at extremely tight margins, wrote the Senators. The decision is even more troubling considering that USDA clearly has sufficient resources to cover these losses. Additionally, it is less complicated for both USDA and farmers to cover all livestock and avoid confusion about what animals are covered or excluded. Considering the dairy industry's traditionally tight margins, USDA's decision to shift course and arbitrarily exclude dairy farm losses related to meat production is a significant blow, wrote the Senators. We urge USDA to reverse this arbitrary decision and make breeding animals eligible for CFAP 2 like they were under the original relief program. In addition to Senators Stabenow and Leahy, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and GaryPeters(D-Mich.). The full text of the letter is below. A PDF of the letter is available here. Dear Secretary Perdue, We are concerned that USDA's new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will unfairly disadvantage dairy and other livestock producers. Specifically, USDA made a significant change between the first version of CFAP and the new version that has unfairly excluded the value of the meat produced from breeding animals.This change will affect the livestock industry and will be particularly harmful to dairy farmers who often operate at extremely tight margins. The decision is even more troubling considering that USDA clearly has sufficient resources to cover these losses. Additionally, it is less complicated for both USDA and farmers to cover all livestock and avoid confusion about what animals are covered or excluded. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, dairy farms have struggled with prolonged market uncertainty, unfair trade practices, and the Administration's chaotic trade policies. Unfortunately many farms, especially smaller operations, have had no choice but to sell their cows and exit the dairy business.While the value of the milk is the primary income stream for dairy farms, they are by nature diversified with significant income coming from the meat of cows as they are retired from milking and any crop production that exceeds the feed needs of their own animals.Considering the dairy industry's traditionally tight margins, USDA's decision to shift course and arbitrarily exclude dairy farm losses related to meat production is a significant blow. We urge USDA to reverse this arbitrary decision and make breeding animals eligible for CFAP 2 like they were under the original relief program.It would not be difficult to estimate an average rate that dairy cows are removed from milking and sent to the meat supply. Should USDA determine that breeding animals are typically worth less per head than other cattle, a separate per head rate could also be established instead of completely excluding dairy cows and other breeding animals. With respect to dairy losses due to the pandemic, we continue to encourage USDA to provide assistance to farmers that had to dispose of milk due to the pandemic's shock to the normal food supply.We also encourage USDA to be flexible and work with the dairy industry, as there may be different scenarios depending on how cooperatives and farmers managed the temporary surplus. A one-size-fits-all approach may unfairly exclude some losses. While we are particularly concerned with barriers preventing dairy farms from accessing this critical assistance, the exclusion of breeding animals in the other segments will also create unnecessary inequities. In particular, some farmers have sought out opportunities to specialize and are arbitrarily excluded by the USDA decision. For example, some farms have focused on developing superior genetics and supplying animals to other farmers that breed them and produce the animals that go directly for meat or wool production.These producers will clearly be experiencing pandemic related losses as the farmers they supply have had to reduce purchases, but the breeding animal decision by USDA completely excludes any assistance for these specialized farms. Finally, in addition to the unfairness of excluding losses from certain segments of meat production, USDA's decision to not cover all animals unnecessarily complicates the sign-up process for Farm Service Agency field staff and farmers.Setting a fair payment rate for all animals, including breeding animals, would largely avoid the difficult job of trying to define the intended use' of each calf, lamb, piglet or kid born and expecting farmers or USDA field staff to validate those determinations. Thank you for considering our request for USDA to reverse the decision to exclude breeding animals like dairy cows from CFAP 2.Congress recently provided the requested early refill of the Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing authority in the Continuing Resolution enacted on September 30, providing USDA with sufficient resources to correct this unfair decision. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/wyden-leahy-schumer-merkley-ask-national-guard-for-wildfire-readiness-assessment,"Wyden, Leahy, Schumer, Merkley Ask National Guard For Wildfire Readiness Assessment",2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.20 Wyden, Leahy, Schumer, Merkley Ask National Guard For Wildfire Readiness Assessment Senators praise Guard response to 2020 wildfires, say assessment will help ensure Guard has the firefighting resources it needs Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today led colleagues in asking the National Guard for a report on its readiness to help states prepare, fight and recover from wildfires. In a letter to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Daniel R. Hokanson, the senators wrote, As devastating fires of historic proportion continue to ravage the United States, we ask you to provide us an assessment of the National Guard's ability to prepare for, respond to, and help state firefighting forces recover from wildfires. A frank estimation will help Congress address any gaps and use every resource available to respond to this year's fires. It will also help us better resource and equip the Guard for a future in which human-driven climate change will make fire seasons increasingly severe and destructive. We commend all the heroic men and women of the National Guard who have been responding to raging wildfires as part of a federal, state, and local effort, the senators wrote.With a more complete understanding of the Guard's ability to respond, we can ensure proper resourcing and will be better able to keep our Guard members always ready and always there. The senators requested the National Guard provide the following information in response to today's letter: The availability of appropriately trained personnel and equipment for firefighting-related needs; An accounting of the capacity available through Emergency Management Assistance Compacts and whether expanding them may provide additional opportunities or wildfire capacity; and Any National Guard Bureau plans or constructs developed with governors for coordinated regional response. Wyden, Leahy, Schumer and Merkley were joined by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Tom Udall, D-N.M., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Maria Cantwell D-Wash. A copy of today's letter is available here. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-senate-democrats-to-attorney-general-barr-immediately-halt-efforts-to-gut-the-affordable-care-act-in-court,"Leahy, Senate Democrats To Attorney General Barr: Immediately Halt Efforts To Gut The Affordable Care Act In Court",2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.21.20 Leahy, Senate Democrats To Attorney General Barr: Immediately Halt Efforts To Gut The Affordable Care Act In Court . . . As Supreme Court ACA Hearing Approaches and Republicans Ram Through a Supreme Court Nominee in an Illegitimate Process, Democratic Lawmakers Highlight How an ACA Repeal Can Impact Health Coverage for Americans Who Contract COVID-19. . . . ""It is unconscionable for the Department of Justice to pursue this lawsuit in the midst of this unprecedented public health crisis, and we urge you to rescind your support of these efforts immediately."" Text of Letter WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2020) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the former chairman and longest serving member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with 19 other senators, on Wednesday sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rescind its support of the Supreme Court lawsuit that seeks to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the letter, the senators spotlight how health insurance protections for millions of Americans are at stake in light of the current Supreme Court nomination fight and the ways in which health insurers could discriminate against millions more people who contract COVID-19 if the pre-existing protections in the ACA are gutted. The letter was also signed by Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). ""We urge the Department of Justice to immediately rescind its support of the lawsuit in California v. Texas asking the Supreme Court to declare the ACA unconstitutional and invalidate the law in its entirety,"" wrote the lawmakers. ""Passed in 2010, the ACA dramatically expanded the number of Americans with health insurance. Destroying this progress and ripping away critical protections is cruel on its face. Looking to do so in the midst of a nearly unprecedented public health emergency a COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed over 220,000 American lives and infected over 8 million people is especially unconscionable."" The Supreme Court will hear arguments in California v. Texas on November 10, 2020. Among critical provisions, the ACA has made it illegal for insurance companies to deny insurance coverage for the 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Before the ACA became law, insurers could exclude coverage of care associated with pre-existing conditions; charge higher health premiums based on a person's health status or gender; limit certain benefits like mental health treatment, prescription drugs, or maternity care associated with pre-existing conditions; and impose lifetime or annual caps on benefits. Health experts warn that, without the ACA, health insurers could classify COVID-19 as a pre-existing condition and deny COVID-19 survivors health insurance--adding millions more people to the previously existing 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Despite these essential protections for Americans and the growing number of Americans contracting COVID-19, the Department of Justice is currently in court seeking to invalidate the ACA while President Trump is working to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat with his nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, in time for the November 10 arguments. Barrett's nomination is a key component of the president's self-stated goal of ""terminating"" the ACA. ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-need-for-a-comprehensive-covid-relief-bill,Statement On The Need For A Comprehensive COVID Relief Bill,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.21.20 Statement On The Need For A Comprehensive COVID Relief Bill . . . . Senate Floor We are in the middle of the most devastating public health crisis in modern history, and the American people are paying a terrible price. Nearly 220,000 people have died in just ten months. That is significantly more than the number of Americans who died in the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined. Remember when President Trump called himself a war president? Has he acted like one? He called the virus a hoax, and he's been AWOL ever since. Millions have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. People are being evicted from their homes, they are living in their cars, in shelters or on the street, and relying on the generosity of others. And the virus is still not remotely under control. The need for another comprehensive emergency funding bill to address the COVID crisis is obvious and urgent, as it has been for five months. And what is the Senate doing? Staging show votes on COVID relief bills that the Majority Leader knows will go nowhere, and going back on their word to rush through the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice less than two weeks before an election and after millions of Americans have already voted. Where are their priorities? I know where mine are. They are with the families of the 220,000 Americans who have lost their lives to this virus. They are with the thousands of Vermonters and the millions more across the nation who have lost their jobs during this pandemic. They are with the small business owners struggling to stay afloat during this crisis. They are with the fathers and mothers who are wondering if they will be able to pay next month's rent or put food on the table. They are with the children struggling to learn through zoom calls and online classes. This is a national disaster that requires real solutions. We need a comprehensive bill to address this problem. We cannot do this piecemeal, as Senator McConnell seems to want to do. We cannot pass an inadequate bill today on the chance that maybe we will come back and fix it later. That is not how this place works, and everyone knows it. We have one chance in what remains of this year to get this right and we owe it to the American people to try. Yesterday, Senator McConnell staged a show. Instead of bringing up a comprehensive proposal for COVID relief and opening it up for debate, he called for a process vote on only one aspect of COVID relief the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). I support this program. It has been critical in keeping literally thousands of Vermont small businesses afloat. But the majority's proposal on PPP falls flat. It ignores critical improvements to the program that would be made by considering the HEROES Act expanding access to all nonprofits, making critical access hospitals eligible for PPP, and addressing arbitrary caps on various loan programs to help small businesses. More importantly, providing more funding for this program and nothing else would not remotely solve the daunting problem facing our country today, and it will not fix the economy. The economy will not come back until the American people have confidence that the virus has been vanquished. We need more funding for the PPP program, I agree. But we need to fix that program, and do so much more. We need to invest more in testing and it needs to be based on a national testing and contact tracing strategy so we can quickly identify cases and isolate those exposed. How many times do we have to say this? We need to develop a vaccine distribution program NOW, so it can be up and running as soon as a vaccine is available in order to get it to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. We need to provide personal protective equipment to those on the front line fighting the virus. We need to ensure our hospitals have the resources they need to take care of the ill. We need to keep our nursing homes safe and virus free. Doing targeted bills aimed at one sector is the way to avoid doing what is really needed. It also picks winners and losers at a time when everyone is struggling. No matter how much aid we give to small business, or to the airlines, or to our struggling restaurant industry, our economy will not come back until we have this virus under control. That is why we need a comprehensive bill, and the so-called McConnell skinny bill we are voting on today is not it. This bill is woefully inadequate. It provides only $500 billion dollars for COVID relief, less than half of what even the Trump Administration proposed just a month ago, and leaves out funding for many critical programs. Lines at food banks have sky-rocketed during this crisis, yet there is nothing in the McConnell bill for nutrition assistance. There is nothing in the bill to help the millions of American's struggling to pay next month's rent or keep up with their mortgage payments. A massive problem, notwithstanding the wishful thinking of the President who either doesn't know or doesn't care. Maybe it's both. Today there are over 25 million Americans on unemployment, compared to just 2 million at the end of January, and the unemployment assistance in this bill is wholly inadequate. There is nothing in the bill for state and local governments who are on the frontline fighting this virus. It contains inadequate money for testing, education, and childcare. It provides no funding for community health centers, which desperately need it if they are to continue their critical work in our most vulnerable communities. And there is no funding to fight this virus on a global level. We cannot defeat this pandemic if we ignore what is happening outside of the United States. Americans cannot safely resume normal international travel and commerce without a successful global effort to dramatically reduce the rates of infection overseas. I could go on, but this bill is not a serious one. Adding insult to injury, it provides sweeping liability shields for corporate wrongdoers who fail to do their part to keep consumers, employees, and patients safe. That tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of this Republican sponsors: big corporations come ahead of struggling American families. Senator McConnell knows this bill cannot pass the Senate. We've already voted on it once and it failed. So why are we wasting our time doing it again? It is because they do not have a plan. Senator McConnell has been clear that his Republican caucus is done with this virus. While cases are once again surging across the country, Senate Republicans have simply moved on. Their wait-and-see approach has simply become wait-and-don't-look. The Republicans are not serious about solving this problem for the American people. But we have no choice. The House passed the HEROES Act, a comprehensive bill over five months ago, and in an effort to prod the Senate into action, passed the HEROES II Act three weeks ago. We are elected to lead, and that is what we must do in times of national crises like this. I remain hopeful that Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin's talks will result in a comprehensive deal on COVID relief that will solve real problems in America. Speaker Pelosi has already shown a willingness to compromise, and the other side must do the same. If it does, Senator McConnell must commit to bring it to the floor for a vote immediately, even if he personally opposes it, or the majority of his caucus opposes it. That's the way democracies are supposed to work. The American people have waited long enough. #####",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/vermont-agriculture-update,Vermont Agriculture Update,2020-10-20,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.20.20 Vermont Agriculture Update Vermont Agriculture UPDATE *** Under Pilot Pgm., VT Dairy Farmers For 1st Time Can Be Paid Directly For Work In Protecting Water Quality *** Ironing Out The Bump In Federal Hemp Standards Recent federal actions will help Vermont's newest agricultural business sector (hemp), as well as the state's most longstanding farm sector (dairy), according to Senator Patrick Leahy. ENLISTING DAIRY FARMERS IN PROTECTING WATER QUALITY: On the more traditional farm front, there was also recent good news that could bring long-lasting benefits to the dairy industry. Under a pilot program funded through a $7 million USDA grant, farmers for the first time will be paid directly for services they provide in protecting water quality for the benefit of all Vermonters. Funding is through the Resource Conservation Partnership Program that Leahy worked to include in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. This program will put Vermont at the forefront in demonstrating Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) projects, an approach to environmental protection in which the community benefits of well managed resources are measured, and land owners are paid by the unit, as they would be for other goods or services. Farmers are embracing this concept that allows them to flexibly manage their land, recognizing that they know their land best, and paying farmers for measurable outcomes. This Vermont pilot will help demonstrate whether the PES approach may reduce phosphorus runoff more efficiently than do traditional regulatory approaches. HEMP AND CBD PRODUCTION: Vermont has been a leader in CBD hemp production since the crop was first legalized in the 2014 Farm Bill. As the former chairman and longest-serving member of the Agriculture Committee, Leahy worked on provisions in the 2014 law that allowed for limited hemp cultivation and sales under pilot programs run by state agriculture agencies. Before that law, hemp had been illegal under the same federal law that bans marijuana. Vermont quickly became a leader in hemp production, subject to regulation by the Vermont Agency of Food and Markets. Leahy worked to move beyond the pilot phase to fully legalize hemp production in the 2018 Farm Bill. Then a bump in the road emerged under USDA's rules to implement the Farm Bill provisions for hemp production, to take effect for the 2021 season, that are difficult, if not impossible, for producers to fully meet. This would have dealt a severe blow to Vermont's most promising new specialty crop. This threat has now been resolved, at least temporarily, with a provision delaying the implementation of the new federal standards by a full year, in language that was included in Appropriations legislation for funding the federal government. Leahy, as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, provided key support for this provision, which will give hemp farmers the certainty of planning for the next growing season under the existing Vermont regulations, while policymakers have more work to do in correcting the problems with the USDA regulation. These few sentences that Leahy helped engineer have saved the day for many Vermont hemp farmers. Both of these actions -- relaxing the poorly drawn hemp regulations, and the PES pilot program in Vermont will give Vermont farmers more flexibility in managing their land and their crops, also offering an opportunity to improve their bottom lines. --Senator Patrick Leahy # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-sanders-seek-swift-release-of-liheap-heating-help,Leahy And Sanders Seek Swift Release Of LIHEAP Heating Help,2020-10-19,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.19.20 Leahy And Sanders Seek Swift Release Of LIHEAP Heating Help . . . . 40 senators urge the Trump Admin. to provide LIHEAP funds to states as soon as possible (MONDAY, Oct. 19, 2020) With winter around the corner and heating costs projected to increase this season, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) joined a bipartisan coalition of 40 senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible under the current continuing resolution. The senators say federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that assists low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter. Under a continuing Appropriations Committee resolution, HHS typically releases 90 percent of the $3.7 billion full-year appropriation. Leahy said: With the pandemic continuing to depress family incomes nationwide, and an early fall here in Vermont, it's vital that HHS act swiftly to release LIHEAP dollars to the states. As vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee I've fought year after year to support strong funding for LIHEAP because I know Vermonters rely on this help to keep warm. Any delay in sending these dollars to Vermont will result in Vermont families delaying filling their fuel tanks as nights get colder. I understand the urgency, and I hope the Administration does as well. Sanders said: As a result of this horrific health and economic crisis, Vermonters are hurting like they have never hurt before. It is critical that we get this home heating lifeline to Vermonters immediately. In the richest country on Earth, we have a moral responsibility to make sure that no one has to make the unacceptable choice between putting food on the table, paying for their prescription drugs, or heating their homes this winter. On the Appropriations Committee Leahy has long been an advocate for the LIHEAP program and has secured funding increases for the program over the past three years. The current appropriations law included $3.7 billion for LIHEAP, and an additional $900 million was included in the CARES Act. The continuing resolution, which funds the government at the previous year's levels, preserves the increase that Leahy secured for the program in 2020. The average cost of home heating is unaffordable for millions of low-income households, costing an average of $911 per year nationally. Heating oil and propane cost even more, over $1,500 every year. The timely release of these funds will provide critical assistance to families unemployed as a result of the pandemic pay their energy bills. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, 15 to 20 percent of residential customers are at least 60 days behind on their electric and natural gas bills, and estimated arrearages are over $20 billion nationally. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and/or energy crisis assistance. Vermont's LIHEAP funds are administered by the Department for Children and Families, and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. To apply for LIHEAP help, Vermonters can apply at the Vermont Department for Children and Families website to get more information and links to an online application. Or Vermonters can contact their local Community Action Agency. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size and the availability of resources. The bipartisan letter was led by Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine). The text of the letter follows: October 14, 2020 The Honorable Alex M. Azar II Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 330 C Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20416 Dear Secretary Azar: With passage of the continuing resolution, we write to urge the Department of Health and Human Services to release Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds as quickly and at the highest level possible. As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. October marks the start of the heating season for many states and low-income families and seniors will be facing additional strains on their household budgets. In addition, millions of low-income families, including seniors, are facing new and severe financial hardship due to the coronavirus, making the assistance provided through LIHEAP more important than ever. As state agencies work to prepare their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources they need to assist low-income households and seniors as soon as possible, especially in light of the current health crisis. As such, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible to allow states to prepare for the upcoming season, so that low-income households do not have to choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine. We look forward to continuing to work with you on this critical program, and thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents. Sincerely, # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-senate-judiciary-committee-executive-business-meeting,Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting,2020-10-15,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.15.20 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting This Committee may not be through the confirmation hearings for Judge Barrett, but we are now officially through the looking glass. As if ramming through confirmation hearings just two weeks after Judge Barrett's nomination and less than three weeks before an election amid a pandemic affecting Committee members wasn't enough of a sham, we are now proceeding to advance her nomination before her hearings have even concluded. Before we even have a chance to ask the nominee all of our questions. Before we have a chance to hear from all of the witnesses this Committee deemed necessary to provide input on the nomination. And apparently before this Committee has even reviewed all of Judge Barrett's record. Records of Judge Barrett's undisclosed speeches and materials continue to pour in, including seven more last night. All were omitted from her questionnaire. I am not suggesting that Judge Barrett intentionally failed to disclose all of these records to the Committee. But I am absolutely suggesting that the Committee's mad rush to confirm her has predictably resulted in a sloppy process and an incomplete record. There is no reason why these deficiencies cannot be cured. There is no reason why this nomination cannot be delayed. If President Trump wins re-election, this Committee could take up Judge Barrett's nomination in January. That process would be legitimate. This one is not. Instead, this process is a caricature of illegitimacy. The fact that we had a nominee before Justice Ginsburg was even buried in order to jam this nomination through before the election will forever mark this process as the callous, political power grab that it is. It's no secret why President Trump is so desperate to install Judge Barrett before the election. Always one to say the quiet part out loud, President Trump has said he expects his nominee to side with him in any election-related dispute. He has made it impossible for Americans not to question Judge Barrett's impartiality should she vote on such a case as a Justice. And so it is incredibly disappointing that she declined to commit to recuse herself from any election-related cases. If she decides in the President's favor in any election-related dispute, it would cause grievous harm to both the Court and indeed our democracy. No judge should ever place the integrity of either in such jeopardy. And it gets worse. Republicans have another horse in the race their lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act on November 10th. The President and Republican Attorneys General do not just want to strike down just some of the ACA, they want to strike down all of it. Republicans on this Committee have tried for years to overturn the ACA, both in Congress and in the courts. They now see an opportunity in Judge Barrett, who has repeatedly criticized the constitutionality and legality of the law and who has never once defended it. So that's why we're here today. Republicans see an opportunity to wildly swing the balance of the court for decades. That's why they have all gone back on their word about giving the American people a voice when President Obama nominated the eminently qualified Judge Merrick Garland 10 months before an election. That's why Republicans are diminishing this Committee and the Senate into a mindless rubber stamp now. There is no glossing over how wrong and base this process is. The damage inflicted in the wake of this outrageous power grab will be considerable perhaps even irreparable. It doesn't have to be this way. This doesn't have to be the story of Judge Barrett's nomination. But it is what Republicans have chosen. In their pursuit of raw power, in their drive to deprive millions of Americans of their basic healthcare protections, Republicans are willing to shred every principle this place once stood for. I see this for what it is. The American people, I hope, will too. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-the-recent-fighting-in-the-south-caucuses,Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Recent Fighting In The South Caucuses,2020-10-15,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.15.20 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Recent Fighting In The South Caucuses I am deeply troubled by the recent military aggression in the South Caucuses, apparently initiated by Azerbaijan, including reports of possible war crimes and mounting civilian casualties. There is a real risk that this protracted conflict could spiral out of control, provoking the involvement of the armed forces of regional powers. That would be a disaster for the civilian population. The immediate priority must be maintaining an unconditional ceasefire as sought by the Minsk Group. But recurring indiscriminate shelling and other acts of violence will continue to imperil local inhabitants until the Governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia make the necessary choices to secure a sustainable diplomatic resolution, with the input of those most affected by this conflict, because it will never be settled through military force. That is why the United States should seek to reinvigorate the Minsk process and urge all governments involved in the fighting, directly or indirectly, to commit to negotiate in good faith. Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-senator-patrick-leahy-at-the-conclusion-wednesday-night-of-judge-amy-coney-barretts-testimony,Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy At The Conclusion Wednesday Night Of Judge Amy Coney Barretts Testimony,2020-10-14,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.14.20 Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy At The Conclusion Wednesday Night Of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Testimony . . . . Wednesday Evening This unseemly and hypocritical push to ram a Supreme Court nominee through with just days before an election in which millions already have voted is not only an affront to the American people, but it damages the Senate and our courts. Republicans have cleared the Senate's decks not to work on much-needed COVID relief, but to spend two of the last weeks before the election on this mad rush to swing the balance of the Supreme Court for decades. This president and Senate Republicans also clearly see an opportunity in Judge Barrett to fulfill their dream to kill the Affordable Care Act. Sherepeatedly has criticized the constitutionality and legality of the ACA, while acknowledging to me that she has never once defended it. Republicans want to make sure the cards are stacked against the ACA and against the tens of millions of Americans whose lives depend upon it when the Supreme Court hears the latest Republican-led lawsuit to overturn the ACA on November 10. # # # # # (Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is a leading member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee) Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-to-the-decision-by-the-trump-administration-to-grant-a-visa-to-indonesian-defense-minister-prabowo,Reaction To The Decision By The Trump Administration To Grant A Visa To Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo,2020-10-13,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.13.20 Reaction To The Decision By The Trump Administration To Grant A Visa To Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo has been credibly implicated in gross violations of human rights, including kidnapping, torture, and disappearances, and under our law he is ineligible to enter this country. By granting him a visa, the President and Secretary of State have shown once again that for them law and order' is an empty slogan that ignores the imperative of justice. The State Department should apply the law and deny him a visa, and the Pentagon should reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law. ##### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/vermont-delegation-demands-postmaster-general-deliver-and-install-critical-mail-processing-machine-to-white-river-junction-facility,Vermont Delegation Demands Postmaster General Deliver and Install Critical Mail Processing Machine to White River Junction Facility,2020-10-13,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.13.20 Vermont Delegation Demands Postmaster General Deliver and Install Critical Mail Processing Machine to White River Junction Facility WASHINGTON Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Senator Patrick Leahy (D), and Representative Peter Welch (D) on Tuesday sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy demanding the immediate delivery and installation of the new AFCS 200 cancellation machine at the White River Junction mail processing facility, a machine that is critical to the efficient handling of the mail. In the letter, Leahy, Sanders, and Welch wrote, While we have been promised for months that a new AFCS 200 cancellation machine will be installed, we have just learned that this will not occur until January of 2021 at the earliest. This timing is both unacceptable and another example of this administration's attempt to sabotage the Postal Service and the 2020 election."" The cancellation machines at the White River Junction facility have been due to be replaced for several years now. USPS recently removed an AFCS (legacy system) cancellation machine from the facility, leaving the White River Junction center with just one operational cancellation machine. When that machine breaks down, as it did this past weekend, postal employees are forced to process mail by hand, which significantly delays the process. These employees are to be commended for their hard work and dedication and should be given every available resource to ensure the safe and timely processing of the mail, which includes a record number of mail-in ballots. Waiting until 2021 to get this new machine to Vermont will present undue harm to the hundreds of thousands of Vermonters who have been given the ability to vote by mail by November 3rd as well as Vermont's seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who rely on the Postal Service for the delivery of their prescriptions, concluded the Vermont delegation. It will also further harm all those who will be separated from their families this holiday season if they are unable to rely on promise of the U.S. Postal Service to receive mail from loved ones a small but critically important way to reduce isolation, depression, and loneliness, particularly for older, more isolated Vermonters."" You can read the letter here. Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-highlights-health-care-story-and-effects-of-supreme-court-overturning-aca-in-vermont,Leahy Highlights Health Care Story And Effects Of Supreme Court Overturning ACA In Vermont,2020-10-12,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.12.20 Leahy Highlights Health Care Story And Effects Of Supreme Court Overturning ACA In Vermont WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2020) Just now, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) shared the story of Martha Richards, a Vermonter who is enrolled in the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) expanded Medicaid program. Senators are highlighting the devastating effects of the Supreme Court potentially overturning the ACA in the midst of a global pandemic. The ACA provides insurance for more than 20 million Americans and protections for the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Excerpt of Senator Leahy's remarks: Overturning the Affordable Care Act has been perhaps the single most important policy objective of the Republican Party over the last decade. If Republicans are now successful, the results will be nothing short of catastrophic for the millions of Americans who depend on its coverage and protections. That includes Martha Richards, a Vermonter who reached out to my office concerned about the fate of the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Martha earns just over the minimum wage in Vermont while working for the Vermont State Parks. She raised two kids on her own. Soon after enrolling in the expanded Medicaid program she began experiencing debilitating pain in her ear and behind her eye. That led to a series of expensive medical tests, including two MRIs that cost $6,000 each. She shudders at the thought of what would have happened without the ACA's Medicaid expansion. If it is discarded now as the Republican Attorneys General have requested in the case before the Supreme Court millions of Americans like Martha would be on their own. I am also concerned about Mary Nadon Scott, who lives in Northfield, Vermont, just over the ridge from my home in Middlesex. In her twenties, Mary was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare neurological disease that's a pre-existing condition. While Vermont has some basic protections for those with pre-existing conditions, they apply only to certain insurance plans and wouldn't protect anyone who moves out of state. Like my wife, Marcelle, Mary had worked as a nurse, dedicating herself to the selfless care of others. While Mary is now in a wheelchair and can no longer practice nursing, she still does everything for her two kids. Mary can do this because her medications and in-home care paid for by her insurance. But even with some state protections, Mary is worried what the Supreme Court case next month will mean for people with preexisting conditions like her. For Mary, her biggest priority is preserving the in-home support that allows her to continue living at home and taking care of her children. When I think of what the Affordable Care Act means to millions of Americansand what is on the line with this nominationI think of people like Mary. In Vermont, if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the ACA, it would mean: More Vermonters losing coverage during a global pandemic 60,600 Vermonters enrolled through the Medicaid expansion could lose coverage. Over 20,000 Vermonters who get their insurance on the state exchange will lose federal subsidies. Without Medicaid expansion and tax subsidies to help purchase Marketplace plans, even more Vermonters who have lost their job-based coverage could stay uninsured. Discrimination against those with pre-existing conditionsincluding COVID-19 survivors. The 256,800 Vermonters with pre-existing conditions could face higher costs, fewer benefits, and could have trouble finding coverage. The 1,821 Vermonters who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 so far could face higher premiums and more meager coverage that puts health care out of reach. Women pay more but get less. Insurers not regulated by the State of Vermont could charge women higher premiums than men (i.e., gender rate) and offer fewer benefits for the 15,300 Vermont women under 65 covered through individual market plans. Together, gender rating, reduced benefits, and the ability of insurers to deny coverage altogether could increase costs, bar access to care, and put coverage out of reach for 125,000 women under 65 and girls in Vermont with pre-existing conditions. Higher costs for older Vermonters Striking down the ACA would re-open the Medicare prescription drug donut holeexposing 10,466 seniors to potentially thousands of dollars in out of pocket costs. 145,000 Vermonters on Medicare could see higher premiums and deductibles put in place to compensate for payment standards to medical providers currently guaranteed by the ACA. Judge Barrett's record: Judge Amy Coney Barrett has already indicated she would vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Barrett has said she and Justice Antonin Scalia have the same judicial philosophy. Justice Scalia twice voted to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. He wrote dissenting opinions in NFIB v. Sebelius and King v. Burwell. Barrett criticized Chief Justice John Roberts for upholding the law, saying in 2017: [Chief Justice John] Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute. Barrett also expressed disagreement with the Supreme Court's majority opinion in King v. Burwell, where the court upheld a key component of the law, saying the dissent had the better of the legal argument. ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/opening-statement-on-the-nomination-of-justice-amy-coney-barrett-to-be-associate-justice-of-the-united-states-supreme-court,Opening Statement On The Nomination Of Justice Amy Coney Barrett To Be Associate Justice Of The United States Supreme Court,2020-10-12,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.12.20 Opening Statement On The Nomination Of Justice Amy Coney Barrett To Be Associate Justice Of The United States Supreme Court I have served in the Senate for 46 years, a span that includes 20 Supreme Court nominations and 16 confirmation hearings. None not one looked anything like this one. We are less than two weeks removed from Justice Ginsburg being laid to rest. It is true that it is the responsibility of this Committee to consider her replacement on the Supreme Court. But this is not how we should do it. We should not have had a nomination ceremony before Justice Ginsburg was even buried, while the nation was mourning her passing. We should not be holding a hearing just 16 days later, when this Committee has afforded itself three times as long to vet other modern nominees to our nation's highest court. We should not be holding a hearing three weeks from a presidential election, when millions of Americans have already voted. Not when doing so requires that literally half of the Senate go back on their word, contradicting every argument they made four years ago about the American people needing a voice during election year vacancies. We should not be holding this hearing when it is plainly unsafe to do so. I'd like to place into the record a letter from Senators Booker, Harris and myself to the Chairman, asking that these hearings not proceed without proper testing measures in place. Two members of this Committee are just now emerging from quarantine after testing positive for COVID. Other members have declined to get tested at all. And yet the Chairman has refused to implement a daily testing regime to keep members, staff, and Judge Barrett and her family safe. By ignoring our request to implement daily testing, this Committee is displaying the same disregard for taking basic steps to mitigate the spread of this virus as President Trump. The Senate should also not be holding this hearing while doing nothing to pass a desperately-needed COVID relief bill. Every senator on this Committee knows in her or his heart that this is wrong. More than 214,000 Americans have died due to COVID. Millions more are hurting. The virus is spiking again across the country. Yet President Trump and Senate Republicans feel no urgency to meet the needs of American families in the face of this crisis. This is despite the fact that claims for unemployment benefits have remained above 800,000 every week, since mid-March. This is despite the fact that lines at food banks are at historic levels. Schools are struggling to safely educate our children both in the classroom and remotely. Parents are struggling to find safe and affordable child care. And families are struggling to pay rent at a time when eviction moratoriums have expired. It has now been five months since the House passed the HEROES Act. As a result of Republicans' stonewalling, Americans now face yet another month without any relief. Instead of working to assist struggling Americans, Senate Republicans are consumed only with this mad rush to fill a Supreme Court vacancy on the eve of a presidential election. And why? The answer, I fear, is painfully clear. With this vacancy, President Trump and Senate Republicans see the potential to wildly swing the balance of the Court and transform our independent courts into a far-right arm of the Republican Party. The potential to accomplish through the courts what they have failed to accomplish in the halls of Congress. At the top of their hit list is the Affordable Care Act. It is no secret, and it is no coincidence, that Republicans are rushing to confirm Judge Barrett before the Supreme Court considers the latest Republican-led lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act on November 10. The President has promised that any judge he nominates will overturn the Affordable Care Act. For her part, Judge Barrett's writings have made it unequivocally clear that she believes the law is unconstitutional. Overturning the Affordable Care Act has been perhaps the single most important policy objective of the Republican Party over the last decade. If Republicans are now successful, the results will be nothing short of catastrophic for the millions of Americans who depend on its coverage and protections. This is Mary Nadon Scott. She lives in Northfield, Vermont, just over the ridge from my home in Middlesex. In her twenties, Mary was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare neurological disease that's a preexisting condition. While Vermont has some protections for those with pre-existing conditions, they apply only to certain insurance plans and wouldn't protect anyone who moves out of state. Like my wife, Marcelle, Mary worked as a nurse. After her diagnosis she realized she would soon no longer be able to pursue the career she loved. So Mary asked the hospital to rotate her through different specialties so she could help more people, in as many ways as possible. That's who Mary is. While Mary is now in a wheelchair and can no longer practice nursing, she still does everything for her two kids. I had the pleasure of calling one of her sons on his birthday last spring. Mary attends their soccer games, helps with their remote school, and even brought them to tour the Vermont State House. Mary can do this because of her medications and in-home care paid for by her insurance. But Mary is worried. Even with some state protections, Mary is worried what the Supreme Court case next month will mean for people with preexisting conditions like her. For Mary, her biggest priority is preserving the in-home support that allows her to continue living at home and taking care of her children. Mary is a fighter. But when I think of what the Affordable Care Act means to millions of Americans and what is on the line with this nomination I think of people like Mary. I also think of Martha Richards. Martha is another Vermonter who reached out to my office concerned about the fate of the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Martha earns just over the minimum wage in Vermont while working for the Vermont State Parks. She raised two kids on her own. Soon after enrolling in the expanded Medicaid program she began experiencing debilitating pain in her ear and behind her eye. That led to a series of expensive medical tests, including two MRIs that cost $6,000 each. She shudders at the thought of what would have happened without the Medicaid expansion. If it is discarded now as the Republican Attorneys General have requested in their case before the Supreme Court millions of Americans like Martha would be on their own. I do not suggest that Judge Barrett personally desires these consequences. But these are the inescapable consequences if her stated views on the law prevail on the Supreme Court. And if Republicans are successful in filling this vacancy prior to November 10, these views will almost certainly prevail. This is what is at stake here. This is what weighs heavily on me as we begin these hearings. It also weighs heavily on the minds of the Vermonters I represent. I have heard from them both often and loudly since Justice Ginsburg's passing. They are scared, Judge Barrett. They are scared that your confirmation would rip from them their most basic healthcare protections. They are scared that the clock will be turned back to a time when women had no right to control their own bodies, and when it was acceptable to discriminate against women in the work place. They are scared that at a time when we are facing the perilous impacts of climate change, bedrock environmental protections will be eviscerated. They are scared that your confirmation would result in the rolling back of voting rights, workers' rights, and the rights of the LGBTQ community to equal treatment. These are the real life implications of decisions made by the Court. And a majority of Americans, like an overwhelming majority of Vermonters, do not support taking our country in that direction. Republicans first announced their intention to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat just one hour after the announcement of her death. From that moment this process has been nothing but shameful. Worse, it will almost certainly lead to disastrous consequences for Americans. Justice Ginsburg, I am certain, would have dissented. And I will, too on behalf of Vermonters, on behalf of the integrity of the Senate, and on behalf of the majority of Americans who oppose this process. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-booker-harris-press-chairman-graham-not-to-conduct-supreme-court-hearings-without-covid-19-testing-procedures-in-place,"Leahy, Booker, Harris Press Chairman Graham Not To Conduct Supreme Court Hearings Without COVID-19 Testing Procedures In Place",2020-10-09,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.09.20 Leahy, Booker, Harris Press Chairman Graham Not To Conduct Supreme Court Hearings Without COVID-19 Testing Procedures In Place . . . Warn That Hearings Could Otherwise Become Virus Super-Spreader (FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Friday pressed Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) not to proceed with Supreme Court confirmation hearings next week unless stringent COVID-19 testing procedures are implemented immediately. Pointing out that two Judiciary Committee members have tested positive for COVID-19 and others have thus far refused to be tested, the senators told Graham that without testing procedures in place, the hearings could threaten the safety and health of all who attend in person. The senators wrote: In the wake of news that Senators Lee and Tillis tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the White House event announcing Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court, Judiciary Committee Democrats asked that you postpone her confirmation hearings to ensure that we don't risk the health and safety of fellow Senators, Senate staff, other Senate employees, as well as Judge Barrett and her family. To date, we understand that you plan to proceed with these hearings on October 12, 2020, despite the serious risks they present. We urge you against unsafely moving forward with these hearings while no clear testing regime is in place to ensure that they do not become another super-spreader of this deadly virus. The senators continued: Without these precautionary measures in place, Senators, Senate staff, press, Judge Barrett and her family will face a serious, unnecessary risk of contracting COVID-19. We also have a moral responsibility to protect the workers who make it possible for us to do our jobs in the Senate each and every day. Absent these protocols, you are ignoring CDC best practices and may force Senators to participate in this hearing remotely which, for such a consequential hearing, would be entirely unprecedented. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, your first and foremost obligation is to ensure the safety and well-being of Committee members and staff. We urge you to honor that obligation in the days ahead. Full text of the letter can be found here. # # # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-joins-in-letter-to-postmaster-general-dejoy-requesting-immediate-action-to-address-impacts-to-election-mail-delivery-caused-by-usps-failure-to-update-voter-address-changes-,Leahy Joins In Letter To Postmaster General DeJoy Requesting Immediate Action To Address Impacts To Election Mail Delivery Caused By USPS Failure To Update Voter Address Changes,2020-10-09,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.09.20 Leahy Joins In Letter To Postmaster General DeJoy Requesting Immediate Action To Address Impacts To Election Mail Delivery Caused By USPS Failure To Update Voter Address Changes WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2020) On Friday, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of HSGAC, led 17 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy raising concerns about recent reports that for three weeks in August, the United States Postal Service (USPS) failed to update address changes in the National Change of Address Linkage database (NCOALink), which most states use to keep voters addresses up to date. In the letter, the Senators ask the Postmaster General to answer several questions to assure Americans that this error will not impact their ability to safely and securely vote-by-mail in the upcoming general election. We write to express our concern about recent reports that in August, the United States Postal Service failed to update address data in the National Change of Address Linkage database (NCOALink) and to request information about the resulting impact on election mail. With voters already casting ballots across the nation, such failures are unacceptable and require immediate action, wrote the lawmakers. BACKGROUND: The letter was also signed by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Wood Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Tom Carper (D-DE). The full text of the letter can be found here and below: Dear Mr. DeJoy: We write to express our concern about recent reports that in August, the United States Postal Service (USPS) failed to update address data in the National Change of Address Linkage database (NCOALink) and to request information about the resulting impact on election mail. With voters already casting ballots across the nation, such failures are unacceptable and require immediate action. For three weeks in August, the Postal Service failed to update address changes in the NCOALink database, which most states use to keep voter addresses up to date. Between August 10 and August 30, at least 1.8 million new changes of address were not registered in the database, due to an unspecified error. While USPS stated that it fixed the error and restored the missing data on September 14, we are concerned about how the missing data affected jurisdictions that were preparing election mailings during the outage. According to reports, officials in Minnesota sent out ballot applications based partly on information drawn from the faulty database in August, while other states had to delay sending out mailings as they scrambled to fix incorrect addresses. Other states were unaware of the change-of-address problem.[1] USPS is responsible for communicating with jurisdictions about election mail issues, and has over 400 Election Mail Coordinators available for this purpose. USPS must fully communicate with states and the public about any issues that might affect election mail, and must work diligently to prevent such errors. On August 21, 2020, you testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee regarding policy changes at the Postal Service that resulted in nationwide delays to mail delivery service. Senators raised concerns not only about the delays in critical items that Americans receive through the mail on a regular basis, such as prescription medications and Social Security checks, but also about the Postal Service's ability to safely and securely deliver all mail ballots on time for the upcoming general election. This year will see the largest volume of election mail in American history, due in large part to the global health pandemic that will keep voters at home in November. You told the American people during your testimony before the committee that you were extremely, highly confident the Postal Service would deliver the nation's election mail on time. In order to reassure our constituents that this error will not impact their ability to vote, we ask that you respond to the following questions no later than October 14, 2020: When and from whom did you learn that USPS stopped updating change-of-address data in NCOALink for a period of about three weeks in August 2020? What was the cause of this failure and what corrective actions did you take to respond? Upon learning of this failure, did USPS immediately notify relevant election officials in each of the states that were impacted by any missing data? Did USPS work with election officials to assist them in responding to this failure? How did the failure to update addresses affect jurisdictions that were preparing election mailings during the period of August 10 to September 14? Based on USPS coordination with election officials, how many jurisdictions were at risk of preparing mailings based on incorrect data, and how many had to change their procedures in order to correct the data? How have you determined that the NCOALink database is now complete and up-to-date? What steps are in place to ensure that address changes are entered into NCOALink in a timely fashion and that there are no system failures, particularly in the days and weeks leading up to the 2020 general election? While USPS is taking steps to ensure swift delivery of election mail, errors such as this one can have unexpected impacts in a nationwide network. How will USPS communicate to election officials, and crucially to the public, about any internal errors that affect election mail? ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-tests-negative-for-covid-19,Leahy Tests Negative For Covid-19,2020-10-05,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.05.20 Leahy Tests Negative For Covid-19 Statement Of David Carle, Spokesman For Senator Patrick Leahy Senator Leahy was tested for COVID-19 earlier today since he attended the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, where it is now known that two senators were present who have tested positive for the virus. While he did not come into close contact with these two senators for an extended period of time, he took the test at the advice of the Capitol Physician. The test was negative and Senator Leahy continues to exhibit no symptoms for the virus. Given the potential exposure of the virus to all members and staff on the Judiciary Committee last week, and given that four senators on the Committee are currently self-quarantining, Senator Leahy firmly believes that it has become impossible to proceed with a hearing to consider Judge Barrett's nomination, in just seven days from now, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Doing so would needlessly place the health and safety of members, staff, journalists, and the nominee and her family at risk. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/judiciary-committee-democrats-to-chairman-graham-supreme-court-hearing-would-endanger-health-safety-,Judiciary Committee Democrats to Chairman Graham,2020-10-03,2020,2020-10,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.03.20 Judiciary Committee Democrats to Chairman Graham Supreme Court Hearing Would Endanger Health, Safety (SATURDAY, Oct. 3, 2020) Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today led all 10 Judiciary Committee Democrats in calling on Chairman Lindsey Graham to delay the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett after President Trump and committee members Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis tested positive for the coronavirus. To proceed at this juncture with a hearing to consider Judge Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court threatens the health and safety of all those who are called upon to do the work of this body, the senators wrote. The senators continue, The American people are looking to us. Now is the time to provide much-needed COVID relief, not to rush through a Supreme Court nomination and further endanger health and safety. Full text of the letter follows: October 3, 2020 The Honorable Lindsey O. Graham Chairman Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Graham: We learned yesterday that President Trump and Senators Lee and Tillis have tested positive for COVID-19. We sincerely hope that the President and our Senate colleagues recover fully and quickly. As United States Senators and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we have the responsibility to protect this nation and the American people. That includes our fellow Senators, Judge Barrett and her family, our staffs, and the men and women who keep the Senate complex safe, clean, and operational. At least two members of this Committee have already contracted COVID-19, and several other members were in close proximity. As you are aware, the CDC has advised that individuals [s]tay home for 14 days after [ ] last contact with a person who has COVID-19, even if those individuals test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy. To proceed at this juncture with a hearing to consider Judge Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court threatens the health and safety of all those who are called upon to do the work of this body. Further, holding a remote hearing for a Supreme Court nomination is not an adequate substitute. As Republican members of this Committee have recognized, questioning nominees by video is ineffective and ignores the gravity of our constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on lifetime appointments, particularly those to the nation's highest court. More importantly, though, moving forward with Judge Barrett's hearing is a disservice to the American public. Nearly 210,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and more than 7 million Americans have been infected every one of them a COVID survivor who could be denied health coverage if the Affordable Care Act is struck down. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs and millions of children cannot attend school in-person. The American people are looking to us. Now is the time to provide much-needed COVID relief, not to rush through a Supreme Court nomination and further endanger health and safety. Sincerely, Dianne Feinstein Ranking Member Patrick Leahy United States Senator Richard J. Durbin United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse United States Senator Amy Klobuchar United States Senator Christopher A. Coons United States Senator Richard Blumenthal United States Senator Mazie K. Hirono United States Senator Cory A. Booker United States Senator Kamala D. Harris United States Senator ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-supports-passage-22-trillion-house-covid-relief-package,Welch Supports Passage of $2.2 Trillion House COVID Relief Package,2020-10-02,2020,2020-10,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch voted for the updated Heroes Act passed by the House late on Thursday night to deliver much needed coronavirus relief to communities across America. The updated Heroes Act was trimmed to $2.2 trillion from the more than $3 trillion bill passed in May in an attempt to engage Senate Republicans to pass a compromise aid package. Senate Republicans have continued to block passage of the original bill. For months, Democrats have demanded that our response to this devastating pandemic be big and bold to rise to the unprecedented challenge in front of us, said Welch. The economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic is still being felt across our state. Vermont businesses needed help in May, and they need it even more today. In addition to critical help for families and individuals struggling to make ends meet, this bill includes important small business provisions that I championed to help some of the hardest hit small businesses, like restaurants and independent venues, stay afloat. Senator McConnell should get off the sidelines and work with House Democrats to get this bill to the President's desk immediately. Two key initiatives championed by Welch throughout the summer were included in the updated Heroes Act. The RESTAURANTS Act, introduced by Welch and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) would create a $120 billion grant program exclusively for restaurants to cover the difference between 2019 revenues and projected revenues through 2020. The bill also includes a Welch sponsored bill to create a $10 billion fund for independent theaters and live music venues. These bill are designed to help small businesses that could not receive aid through the Paycheck Protection Program passed by the House this spring. In addition, the updated Heroes Act (H.R. 925) includes: A second round of $1,200 economic impact payments to individuals. Restores the $600 weekly federal unemployment payments through January. $12 billion to make sure that students have broadband so that they can learn at home. More than $800 million for Vermont state and local governments. $225billion for K-12 schools and colleges to open and operate safely during the pandemic. $2 billion for state and local health departments responding to the pandemic. $75 billion for testing, contract tracing and other efforts to monitor and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. A 15% increase in the maximum SNAP benefit, known as 3SquaresVt in Vermont, to help hungry families. $400 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to help hungry mothers and children. $500 million to buy liquid milk from farmers to be donated to food banks. $350 million to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to ensure continued inspections of agricultural products in order to keep pests and diseases from entering the U.S. $15 billion for the United States Postal Service to continue operating fully and effectively. $3.6 billion in election security grants to states. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-passage-of-the-fy-2021-continuing-resolution,Statement On The Passage Of The FY 2021 Continuing Resolution,2020-09-30,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.30.20 Statement On The Passage Of The FY 2021 Continuing Resolution . . . . Senate Floor Today the Senate will vote on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through December 11, 2020. I strongly urge all members to vote aye. The last thing our country needs is a government shutdown in the middle of a global pandemic and an unprecedented economic crisis. The bill we are considering passed the House by a wide margin, a rarity these days in Washington. It provides funding for the government through December 11 at fiscal year 2020 funding levels and under the same terms and conditions contained in the fiscal year 2020 appropriations laws. It also includes several authorization matters to extend programs that otherwise would expire, including important health, transportation, and veterans programs. I am pleased the bill includes the Emergency USCIS Stopgap Stabilization Act to help prevent furloughs of federal employees at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, many of whom work in my home state of Vermont. These dedicated federal employees perform critical work, helping immigrants apply for citizenship, visas, and asylum. They have lived under the threat of furlough for months now, in the middle of a global pandemic, all the while continuing their important work. While I believe more fiscal reforms and stronger oversight are needed at USCIS, this legislation will help stave off the immediate crisis while we work on a longer term solution. I am also glad this bill includes nearly $8 billion for child nutrition programs, especially the extension of the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program that provides millions of children with additional monthly benefits for food purchases while schools are closed.This assistance is desperately needed as families across the nation struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table. While I support the continuing resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same, I must note that the very need for it is a symptom of a dysfunctional Congress. It is a senseless and entirely avoidable made-in-Washington crisis. The Senate Appropriations Committee should have been allowed to do its work and complete all 12 appropriations bills months ago. The majority of these bills would have had strong bipartisan support. Instead, we are left with a continuing resolution that kicks the can down the road. Not only did we not complete our work on the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, the Senate has not acted on a much-needed COVID relief bill to address the impacts of the pandemic felt in every town across America. Today, schools are struggling to safely educate our nation's children in both the classroom and remotely without enough funding to do so. More than 9 million children do not have access to the internet in their homes. In normal times, this would set these children far behind their more affluent peers who can access online educational resources. By doing nothing in a time where much of our nation's children are remote learning, Senate Republicans and President Trump are choosing to leave these children behind. Inaction is a choice, and that choice is to actively prop up a cycle of poverty for yet another generation. Lines at food banks are at historic levels. Today in America, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, 1 in 4 households are experiencing food insecurity during this pandemic. Who in this room has looked their child in the eyes with the knowledge that you do not know where their next meal will come from? Inaction is the choice to let that child go hungry and force her parents to live with that terrible pain that comes when you cannot put enough food on the table for your family. Families are struggling to pay rent and eviction moratoriums have expired across the country. In July, it was reported that more than 43 million Americans one quarter of the adult population in this country missed a rent or mortgage payment, or had little to no confidence they could make their next payment. That was two rent or mortgage payments ago with no relief. More than 31 million Americans were unemployed in August, and 163,735 businesses have closed 97,066 of those closed permanently. States do not have the money they need to safely carry out an election that is only 34 days away and in the middle of a pandemic. Without a legislative change extending critical deadlines, our ability to achieve a fair and accurate count in the 2020 Census remains at risk. The American people are suffering. It is infuriating that the Republican leadership refuse to acknowledge this reality. Yet, instead of doing their job and considering and passing full-year appropriations bills and a desperately needed COVID relief bill, Senate Republicans have focused this year almost entirely on packing the courts with right-wing, extreme judges. Faced with an unprecedented health and economic crisis, does this spur Republicans to action? No. What does? A Supreme Court vacancy in an election year that under their own precedent should not be filled until the American people have their say in November. All of a sudden they are ready to get to work. It is shameful. If Senate Republicans want to keep the Senate in session during October, I say do it. There is plenty of work left undone that the Senate could act onthe fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, a COVID relief bill, or any one of the hundreds of bills the House has passed that are currently sitting in Senator McConnell's legislative graveyard. Yet these pressing needs continue to be ignored while Republicans focus on filling a vacancy to the Supreme Court that should rightfully remain vacant until the people have spoken at the polls. Congress is failing the American people because Republicans, led by President Trump, care more about securing a hyper-partisan Supreme Court than the health and safety of the American people. It's that simple. I remain committed to completing the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills and producing bipartisan bills before the CR expires on December 11, 2020. I believe Chairman Shelby shares this commitment, and I look forward to working with him to complete our work. For now, let's remove the threat of any more chaos in this country and prevent a government shutdown by passing this bill. I urge all members to vote aye on the continuing resolution. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-and-welch-press-usda-on-food-box-contract,"Leahy, Sanders And Welch Press USDA On Food Box Contract",2020-09-28,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.28.20 Leahy, Sanders And Welch Press USDA On Food Box Contract (MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have sent an oversight letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, following the Department's award of the Farmers to Families Food Box contract to two out-of-state entities. The Delegation's letter raises concerns about the continuity of operations in Vermont's feeding program through October, the end of the federal program. The Abbey Group, a food service company based in Enosburg Falls, Vt., distributed 568,682 food boxes containing local Vermont produce regionally from May through mid-September. The USDA selected Costa Fruit and Produce, based in Massachusetts, and Sysco, based in Texas, to distribute food boxes in Vermont for the third and final phase of the Farmers to Families Food Box program. The Farmers to Families Food Box program partners with regional and local producers to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat for distribution to food-insecure families. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy played a lead role in negotiating authority for the USDA program and including it in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed by Congress in March. See the full text of the letter here. Leahy said: From May through September, the Abbey Group, along with their local partners, strove to do the right thing by purchasing local Vermont agricultural products and distributing them to families in need in a strategic, efficient and dignified manner. I fully expect that the new contract holders for Vermont will do everything they can to emulate Vermont's past success with this program in its final month of operation. But I have serious concerns that the USDA's decision to switch contract holders at the eleventh hour will reduce the access to an important market for our Vermont farms, and food access for Vermont households. Sanders said: The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the huge struggles and inequities that so many Vermonters deal with each and every day. Fortunately, federal programs like Farmers to Families have stepped in to help meet basic needs, while also supporting local businesses. For months, the Abbey Group has successfully put healthy, local food into the hands of hungry Vermonters, while supporting local farmers and producers who are also struggling as a result of this pandemic. USDA's failure to even review the Abbey Group's application will likely mean less food on Vermonters tables and lost sales for our farmers, right before winter. I will continue to fight in Congress to expand and improve Farmers to Families, as well as other critical food programs like 3SquaresVT, Pandemic EBT, and universal meals for children. Welch said: Abbey Group has done amazing work this summer making sure that Vermonters have fresh, local food in the midst of this pandemic. I have serious concerns that Costa Foods and Sysco will not be able to deliver the same amount of food with similar locally sourced produce. Any delay caused by switching providers hurts Vermonters trying to put food on their table during an unprecedented crisis. I am disappointed that USDA would switch to two out of state vendors without even communicating with the Abbey Groupor the Vermont Congressional delegation. I will continue to demand answers from USDA about why they made this last minute decision that could have serious consequences for Vermontfamilies, producers, and communities. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-welch_vermont-community-lenders-net-115-million-in-federal-funds-to-increase-lending-investment-and-business-support,"Leahy, Sanders, Welch: Vermont Community Lenders Net $1.15 Million In Federal Funds to Increase Lending, Investment And Business Support",2020-09-28,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.28.20 Leahy, Sanders, Welch: Vermont Community Lenders Net $1.15 Million In Federal Funds to Increase Lending, Investment And Business Support (MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Monday that three Vermont organizations have received $1.15 million in federal funds from the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The grants will enable financial institutions to provide business development support and increase lending and investment activity in low-income and economically distressed communities. The CDFI Fund awarded $187.3 million in grants and loans to 357 community credit unions, loan funds and other financial institutions across the country that provide affordable financial products and services in economically distressed areas. Three Vermont programs received funds through these awards: The Flexible Capital Fund, L3C, received $125,000 Opportunities Credit Union received $375,000 Vermont Community Loan Fund Inc. received $650,000 In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: These awards will bring key resources to community based initiatives in Vermont that are focused on alleviating poverty and advancing social justice issues that are especially important during the current health and economic crisis. Opportunities Credit Union, VCLF and the Flexible Capital Fund have a proven track record of using federal funds to improve the lives of Vermonters. Because of their work, more Vermonters will have access to safe and affordable housing, childcare, small business capital and health care. Leahy, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has long been an advocate for the CDFI program. The program has played an important role in Vermont's economy by investing in small businesses, families and neighborhoods that would not have access to the capital they need from conventional lenders. The Flexible Capital Fund is the only impact investment fund based in Vermont that provides revenue based financing (RBF) as an alternative to equity investment, said Janice St. Onge, President. Unlike equity capital, our flexible investment structure helps companies in Vermont grow without having to give up ownership or decision making. As we enter our tenth year of financing, and navigate our way through the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen an increasing need for and interest in RBF investment in Vermont and New England. This CDFI award will help us identify new and innovative investment structures, expand our geographic reach and transition to the next generation of the Fund so we can continue to provide companies who are paying living wages, producing healthy food and mitigating climate change, with the right match of capital to grow and stay in the region. Established in 1989 and CDFI-certified in 1997, Opportunities Credit Union is an award-winning financial institution that serves businesses and personal bankers alike. Opportunities Credit Union serves the community by being a 7(a) lender through the Small Business Administration, participating in the FHLB of Boston's Jobs for New England, Housing our Workforce and Equity Builder loan programs and through its Money Sense financial counseling program. The CDFI grant award is highly gratifying and assures that our long history of bringing economic justice to Vermont will continue, said Kate Laud, President and CEO of Opportunities Credit Union. COVID has been particularly challenging to under-banked Vermonters due to job loss, childcare loss and general economic uncertainty. As a community development credit union, we are mindful that some longer term economic challenges may persist and negatively impact our members. Funding for our counseling and lending programs will enable us to continue to serve as them in the post-COVID timeframe. The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) is a mission-driven, community-focused alternative lender working with entrepreneurs and organizations unserved or underserved by traditional lenders. VCLF financing helps lower-income and lower-wealth Vermonters access safe, affordable homes, quality jobs, quality early care & learning and other essential community services like health care, family services and the arts. The CDFI Fund has again recognized the importance of the Loan Fund's work providing all Vermonters equal access to important financial resources, said VCLF Executive Director Will Belongia. This award allows us to continue our mission-driven, rural economic development, and help us support Vermonters' financial stability and quality of life. The Flexible Capital Fund provides creative financing in the form of near equity capital -subordinated debt and revenue based (a.k.a. royalty) financing - to growth-stage companies in the food systems, forestry and clean technology sectors. As a mission-based investor, the Flex Fund is committed to helping portfolio companies grow and to help accelerate the rate at which Vermont, and the region, move towards healthy food systems, clean energy, and climate change solutions. The federal CDFI Program invests in and builds the capacity of community credit unions, banks, loan funds and other financial institutions serving rural and urban communities across the nation that lack adequate access to affordable financial products and services. Since its creation in 1994, the CDFI Fund has awarded more than $3.6 billion to CDFIs, community development organizations, and financial institutions. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-president-trumps-nomination-of-judge-amy-coney-barrett-to-the-us-supreme-court,Comment On President Trump's Nomination Of Judge Amy Coney Barrett To The U.S. Supreme Court,2020-09-26,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.26.20 Comment On President Trump's Nomination Of Judge Amy Coney Barrett To The U.S. Supreme Court Yesterday, I stood by Justice Ginsburg as she lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, honoring her life, her legacy, and our friendship. Today, barely a week after she passed, President Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill her seat on the Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg hasn't even been laid to rest yet. There is no mystery surrounding the Republicans' mad rush to fill this vacancy before an election that is just 38 days away. Just one week later the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Republican-led lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Republicans believe this nominee will accomplish from behind the bench what they failed to accomplish for years in the halls of Congress: strip healthcare and protections for preexisting conditions from millions of Americans, all in the middle of a pandemic. Republicans also believe Judge Barrett will be the deciding vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, turning back the clock nearly a half century on women's autonomy over their bodies and their lives. And President Trump who instinctively believes that all branches of government exist simply to serve his will expects that his nominee will help deliver him four more years in the White House when he inevitably raises his baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud following the election. With this vacancy, Republicans see the potential for a wholly partisan Court an extension of their raw political power. This is why they have gone back on their word, contradicting and twisting every argument they made in 2016 about the American people needing a voice during an election year vacancy. This is why Republicans are willing to ignore the clear majority of Americans who today believe the next president should fill this vacancy. But the American people deserve better than this. I will scrutinize Judge Barrett's nomination as I have the 19 others over my 46 years in the Senate with an exhaustive examination of her record. Yet a dark cloud looms over this nomination, as President Trump and Senate Republicans are dispensing with any sense of basic decency along with every single precedent and principle the Senate once stood for in order to reshape the Court to deprive millions of Americans of healthcare and unravel their constitutional protections. Justice Ginsburg would have dissented against this transparent effort to dismantle Americans' hard-fought rights. And so should we all. # # # # # [Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is a leading member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the dean of the Senate.] Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-hails-passage-energy-efficiency-package-includes-seven-welch,Welch Hails Passage of Energy Efficiency Package that Includes Seven Welch-Authored Bills,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON On Thursday, the House passed energy efficiency legislation that included seven key priorities of Rep. Welch to transition to a clean, reduced carbon economy. This legislation is a bipartisan attempt to lower carbon emissions and build a clean, sustainable green economy. Our climate emergency calls for an all hands on deck response to prevent further destruction of communities and ecosystems across America, said Welch. This energy efficiency package is not a panacea for the climate crisis we are in, but it is an important part of creating a green economy with millions of green jobs that will help us achieve sustainable emissions reductions. We have no more time to waste. The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act (H.R. 4447), includes seven Welch bills: The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (H.R. 3962): A bipartisan bill to create model energy efficient building codes, train the next generation of energy efficiency workers, and reduce federal energy usage. The HOPE for HOMES Act (H.R. 7325): A bipartisan bill to pair the HOMES Act energy efficiency rebate program with a grant program for online workforce training designed to prepare workers to conduct comprehensive home energy efficiency retrofits eligible for tax rebates. The Smart Buildings Acceleration Act (H.R. 2044): A bipartisan bill to facilitate the transition to energy-saving smart buildings by supporting research and documenting the costs and benefits of emerging technologies in private and federal government buildings. The Energy Savings Through Public Private Partnerships Act (H.R. 3079): A bipartisan bill to require federal agencies to implement energy savings projects identified by mandatory energy audits to improve efficiency and save tax dollars. These projects could be paid for by Energy Savings Performance Contracts or Utility Energy Savings Contracts. The Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act (H.R. 5650): A bipartisan bill to formally reauthorize the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and establish energy and water usage reduction goals for federal buildings. The Combined Heat and Power Support Act (H.R. 1480): Authorizes the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) at the U.S. Department of Energy. The CHP TAPs encourage the use of technologies that reduce energy use, save consumers money, increase economic competitiveness, and reduce emissions. The Smart Manufacturing Leadership Act (H.R. 1633): A bipartisan bill to improve the efficiency and global competitiveness of American manufacturers by establishing a smart manufacturing plan and providing assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers in implementing smart manufacturing technologies in their facilities. The measure now heads to the Senate, which is working on similar energy efficiency legislation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/menendez-leahy-and-kaine-unveil-reforms-restricting-us-arms-sales-to-human-rights-abusers-,"Menendez, Leahy, and Kaine Unveil Reforms Restricting U.S. Arms Sales to Human Rights Abusers",2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.24.20 Menendez, Leahy, and Kaine Unveil Reforms Restricting U.S. Arms Sales to Human Rights Abusers . . . . SAFEGUARD Act prohibits arms sales to countries committing genocide or war crimes; increases Congressional oversight of provision of arms, defense services to ensure protection of human rights WASHINGTON Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) today introduced the Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports (SAFEGUARD) Act of 2020. With a growing list of foreign governments using U.S-sold arms and defense services in the commission of human rights abuses against innocent civilians in combat, the senators' new legislation reasserts the importance of Congress' role in the arms sales process in an attempt to prevent the United States government from contributing to or facilitating such abuses in the future. Specifically, the SAFEGUARD Act seeks to enact reforms to the Arms Export Control Act to make the protection and promotion of human rights a primary consideration in the exportation of deadly weapons and defense services to other countries and international organizations. Safeguarding and prioritizing basic human rights in the sale or transfer of lethal arms and in training, advising and support services is not just a moral imperative; it is a fundamental responsibility for any country that wishes to provide such weapons or services to others, Ranking Member Menendez said. The United States has for too long devoted inadequate care to this responsibility, and innocent people have suffered for it. The U.S. should support partners and friendly countries in their legitimate defense needs, and we should be able to do so without the blood of the innocent on our hands. The SAFEGUARD Act is a common sense reform to make certain no U.S. President can ever reward human rights abusers or war criminals with America's deadliest weapons."" Today, U.S. law includes a lower standard for protecting human rights when foreign partners purchase U.S. weapons, as opposed to when we provide them weapons free of charge. That makes no sense and it is bad policy, Senator Leahy said. Regardless of who pays, we are seen as complicit when foreign forces we have trained or equipped violate human rights or commit war crimes. The SAFEGUARD Act includes long overdue, commonsense reforms to strengthen congressional oversight of arms sales, require foreign governments to commit to use U.S. weapons in accordance with international law, and provide an incentive for foreign governments to uphold the law by tying U.S. support to accountability for abuses. This legislation will require that the United States fully consider the human rights record of any potential buyer of U.S. weapons to prevent sales to human rights abusers and to ensure that U.S. equipment is not used in violation of international humanitarian law, said Senator Kaine. At a time when the Trump Administration refuses to cancel arms deals to any country as a repercussion for gross human rights violations, it is critical for Congress to hold the line on a values-based national security policy. A copy of the SAFEGUARD Act can be found HERE. Key provisions of the legislation include: Elevates the protection of human rights in the control and export of defense articles and defense services as an official policy of the United States and places in statute the requirement that the provision of such articles and services will not present a significant risk of violating international humanitarian law or internationally recognized human rights. Prohibits arms sales to countries committing genocide or war crimes; and extends the Leahy Law to cover arms sales. Requires agreements with purchasers that defense article or services will not be used to commit human rights abuses, and allows for the right of return for any arms that are misused. Increases Congressional oversight over any sale or provision of arms and defense services to any country subjected to a coup or that violated specific human rights, including through rape, ethnic cleansing, use of child soldiers, wrongful detention, and extrajudicial killings, by requiring all such sales and services to be reviewed by Congress. Strengthens requirement for the State Department to consider a country's entire human rights record; ensures that State's human rights bureau is involved in decisions to provide defense articles or services; and requires an annual report by the Inspector General on implementation of this provision. Requires certain highly lethal weapons systems to be sold only through the Foreign Military Sales system, thereby allowing conditions and requirements to be placed on such sales by the Department of State; and Requires the sale of any firearm silencer or suppressor to a non-governmental foreign person be reviewed by Congress. Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-executive-business-meeting,Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy Executive Business Meeting,2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.24.20 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy Executive Business Meeting . . . . Senate Judiciary Committee I spoke on the Floor earlier this week about what Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg meant to the courts, what she meant to the struggle for equality for millions of Americans, and what she meant to me. Standing just over five feet tall, she was nonetheless a giant of the law. She was also overwhelmingly good and kind. We will forever be in her debt. It certainly is the job of this Committee to consider her replacement to the Supreme Court. But this is not how we should do it. Not before she is even buried and while the nation is mourning. Not during such a polarizing time for our country, just 40 days from a presidential election. Not at the expense of every precedent and principle this institution used to stand for. Not when doing so requires that half of the United States Senate go back on their word, contradicting every argument they made in 2016 about the American people needing a voice during an election year vacancy. Everyone here knows in their hearts this is wrong. There are so many new excuses for the Republican Party's head-spinning about-face that they are hard to keep track of. I've heard that there was an unspoken exception to the McConnell rule in 2016. Apparently the American people do not get a voice when the White House and Senate are under the control of the same party. Pay no attention to the fact that this contradicts everything Republicans claimed to believead nauseumfor 10 months in 2016. But even this attempt at a fig leaf of institutional cover falls on its face. If the Majority Leader's 2016 rule to let the American people decide only applies when there is a divided government, then the unprecedented 10-month blockade of Judge Merrick Garland contradicted the confirmation of Justice Kennedy by a Democratic Senate during an election year in 1988. Republicans now also claim there's precedent for charging ahead, 40 days before the election. Of course there is precedent for filling certain election year vacancies. In fact, of the many Supreme Court nominations during the first half of presidential election years, only one was denied any process or a vote. That was Judge Garland. Yet, of the four vacancies during the last half of election years, exactly zero were filled before the election. The fact is there has never been a confirmation process like this, occurring just weeks before the election. I've also heard that Democrats are actually at fault for this rush to fill the vacancy. Apparently that is because of how we treated prior nominees of Republican presidents, dating back to Judge Bork in 1987. I am not going to litigate every perceived wrong, except to note that that Judge Bork would have been confirmed but for the fact that he lost Republican votes. However, this argument that Democrats are at fault here collapses under its own weight, as Republicans made commitments not to fill election year vacancies that post-dated all of the Democrats' alleged wrongs. Another reason Republicans claim that the Committee needs to race to confirm a nominee is that otherwise the Supreme Court could end up in a 4-4 split decision involving a disputed election, resulting in a so-called constitutional crisis. Oddly enough, I don't recall hearing this concern from Republicans when they kept the Supreme Court at eight justices for more than a year, through a presidential election, when blocking Judge Garland. In reality, in such a scenario the circuit court decision would stand. That's not a constitutional crisis. Worse, the President is now taking this argument to a truly disturbing level. He is explicitly suggesting that he needs nine justices seated before the election so that the Court will side with him when he inevitably claims election fraud. That is, the President is rushing to fill this vacancy to ensure that the Court will toss out ballots to win him the election when he raises his usual, baseless allegations of voter fraud. Yesterday the President even refused to promise a peaceful transfer of power unless such votes are thrown out. There can be no doubt that the President is counting on his nominee to help deliver him the White House from behind the bench. That alone will result in a crisis of legitimacy for the Court and possibly for the republic with unfathomable consequences. All of this leads to one conclusion: Republicans are rushing with lightning speed to fill this vacancy because they have the power and votes to do so, precedent and principle be damned. Yet there is one principle that has always been recognized by both parties: This institution only functions if we keep our word. That is a principle that we should all cherish. And one that should not be disregarded so easily. When half of the Senate decides that keeping our word is no longer important, we are truly in a dark place, and are headed to only darker places still. Our nation is divided. It is suffering from a pandemic that has taken more than 200,000 lives. The Senate could work to heal the country, and to respond to the pandemic to save lives and help those who are struggling. But we are doing none of that. Instead, Republicans are using their majority to race to confirm a nominee that the President himself has told us will support stripping healthcare protections from Americans. Oral arguments in the Republican-led lawsuit to overturn the ACA and end protections for preexisting conditions are just one week after the election. If all goes to plan, the nominee will be the deciding vote and finish from behind the bench what Republicans have failed to accomplish from the halls of Congress, resulting in millions of Americans losing healthcare protections. I know well these words will fall on deaf ears. Yet subverting Senate norms and basic decency and fairness in the raw pursuit of power is deeply corrosive to this Committee, to the Senate, to the Judiciary, and to our very system of government. So it's simply too important for me to just shrug my shoulders and give up on this institution. I urge my colleagues to change course. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-motion-to-proceed-to-the-continuing-resolution-,Statement On The Motion To Proceed To The Continuing Resolution,2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.24.20 Statement On The Motion To Proceed To The Continuing Resolution In a few moments we will vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 8337, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and other Extensions Act of 2020. I urge all members to vote aye. This bill provides funding for the government through December 11 at fiscal year 2020 funding levels and under the same terms and conditions contained in the fiscal year 2020 appropriations laws. It also includes several authorization matters to extend programs that otherwise would expire, including important health and veterans programs. While I support this bill, I am very disappointed that it is needed at all. We had ample time in the Senate to complete our work on the twelve appropriations bills, yet we did not mark up a single bill. We had ample time in the Senate to consider appropriations bills on the floor, but the Majority Leader was more interested in confirming extreme, right-wing judges than moving any legislation to addresses the needs of the American people, including appropriations bills or critical legislation to combat the COVID virus and its impact on families and the economy. Today, not only are we conceding that we cannot do our most basic job of completing appropriations bills on time, we have failed to address an unprecedented health and economic crisis for months. Last week, more than 870,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits for the first time in this pandemic. Kitchen cabinets across the country are bare as families struggle without enough to eat. Schools do not have enough resources to teach our children at home or protect them inside the classroom. This is infuriating. Republican leadership and the President have cast aside the desperate needs of the American people in favor of government on autopilot. They are more concerned with securing a hyper-partisan Supreme Court than the health and safety of the American people or doing the most basic job of Congress. It's that simple. I will have more to say about the continuing resolution in the coming days as we move toward final passage. But the last thing our country needs is a government shutdown in the middle of a global pandemic and an unprecedented economic crisis. So I urge all members to vote aye on the motion to proceed. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-hails-passage-uscis-funding-included-government-spending-bill,Welch Hails Passage of USCIS Funding Included in Government Spending Bill to Prevent Furloughs,2020-09-23,2020,2020-09,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Peter Welch (D) applauded the inclusion of additional USCIS funding in the stopgap government funding bill (H.R. 8337) that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday night.The additional funds, long championed by Welch and Senators Patrick Leahy (D) and Bernie Sanders (I), will prevent the furloughs of agency staff in Vermont, and across the nation. I am pleased that this bill not only prevents a disastrous government shutdown, but also includes measures to prevent the unnecessary furlough of Vermont workers, said Welch. Over 1,100 USCIS workers in Franklin County do important work every day to help immigrants and new Americans as they go through the naturalization, asylum or visa process. This provision gives USCIS the funds that it needs to prevent any furloughs and ensures that these Vermonters can continue to do their work. The provision was included as part of an agreement between House Democrats and the White House to prevent a government shutdown by funding the federal government through December 11, 2020. It allows USCIS to charge $1,500-$2,000 for premium services often used by companies seeking to bring skilled workers into the U.S. The boosted premium fees will allow the agency to avert layoffs. Throughout the summer, Welch, Leahy and Sanders have worked to avert the planned furloughs at USCIS, originally scheduled for August 30. Welch cosponsored two different bipartisan bills in July and August to prevent USCIS furloughs. The funding bill also includes important provisions to bolster federal nutrition programs, including extending the Pandemic-EBT program through September 2021. This extension, championed by Welch, will allow Vermont to provide additional 3SquaresVT aid to households with children eligible for free or reduced price lunches. The bill is expected to be passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/vermont-council-on-world-affairs,Vermont Council On World Affairs,2020-09-22,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.22.20 Vermont Council On World Affairs . . . . Engage the World 2020 Thank you Tricia, and it is good to be with all of you. This is a somber time for our country. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was a towering figure on the Supreme Court, whose decisions changed our society for the better in profound ways, including for generations of women. She was also a wonderful, kind, and generous person, who Marcelle and I were very lucky to know. I mention her today not just to remember her, but because of the title of this conference Engage The World. To me, as I will say more about, how we engage with the world, and the impact we have, is a function of the principles we stand for as a nation and whether we live up to and defend those principles. Justice Ginsberg defined and reinforced those principles in ways that have shaped our lives here at home, but that also resonate beyond our borders. The Vermont Council on World Affairs has put together an extraordinary program for the next four days. Any conference that includes topics as varied as race and diplomacy, the refugee crisis, Guatemalan cooking, the coronavirus, Ugandan dance, and climate change is bound to attract a lot of interest. So I congratulate you for organizing this conference and for lining up such an interesting roster of speakers. I think this is exactly what Vermont's Senator Warren Austin, who became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and who founded the Vermont Council on World Affairs, would have wanted. If Senator Austin were alive today he would not only be proud of what you are doing. I think he would be doubly convinced of the need for the Vermont Council in a time of rising populism, nationalism, and isolationism and the fear, xenophobia, intolerance, and disillusionment that underlies them. I can't speak to each of those topics in the few minutes I have, but I do want to highlight several points, including the International Visitor Leadership Program. I was very pleased to learn that several past participants in that program are part of this conference. The International Visitor Leadership Program is the Department of State's most important professional exchange program. It brings current and future foreign leaders from a variety of fields government, academia, business, and civil society to experience this country and build lasting relationships with Americans. I have met several participants in that program including from Vietnam and have been enormously impressed by their knowledge and enthusiasm. It is a program I have strongly supported in the Appropriations Committee for many years. Once the COVID pandemic is under control, I hope we can expand it so many more can participate. The International Visitor Leadership Program is especially important today, when actions by the White House have seriously damaged our reputation, our credibility, and our global leadership. At a time when the White House is withdrawing from international organizations and agreements; proposing deep cuts in funding for educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs; treating alliances as if they don't matter; cutting our contributions to the United Nations; and promoting a so-called America First policy that is nothing more than a self-defeating slogan, we need to cultivate relations with the next generation of foreign leaders. We want them to understand that this White House is not the same as the American people, and that we need to work together with foreign partners to solve the world's most pressing problems. This conference focuses on several of them, climate change being the most daunting. Our government, and most other governments, have utterly failed to develop effective strategies to curb global warming, and the world is already paying the price. If this trend continues and if the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington are any indication the consequences will be catastrophic. It is analogous to the COVID pandemic. Years wasted when we should have been preparing for it, followed by denials and obfuscation at the highest levels of government, contradictory and counterproductive statements, politics above science, and no effective national or global strategy. The result: in this country alone, more than 6 million people have been infected and nearly 200,000 have died, and the number of deaths could reach 400,000 by this time next year. So much of this misery could have been avoided with real leadership. What was President Trump's response? To shift the blame, ridicule those who wear masks, withdraw from the World Health Organization, defend the Confederate flag, and lobby for the Nobel Prize. The record of this Administration on foreign policy is a string of impulsive miscalculations and abysmal failures, North Korea being high on the list. Did anyone who knows anything about that regime honestly think it would give up its nuclear weapons? I think the question answers itself. The President campaigned on a promise to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement and the Paris climate agreement. He did both, and he also promised he would negotiate better deals. Instead, there are no negotiations, Iran is closer to building a nuclear weapon, and climate change has gotten worse. We were promised the deal of the century between Israel and the Palestinians that would finally bring peace to the Middle East. Instead, the White House gave a green light to Israeli settlements and annexation of the West Bank, escalating tensions. While the agreements between Israel and UAE and Bahrain are positive steps, they do nothing to bring the Palestinians closer to obtaining a state of their own, which is the only way that conflict will end. I spent years helping to bring about the resumption of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and to begin to address our disagreements with that government and to find areas for cooperation. That triggered an unprecedented expansion of Cuban private businesses as Americans flocked to the island. President Trump reversed all that, claiming that the way to improve human rights in Cuba is to re-impose sanctions, a policy that had failed for 50 years. As a result, Cuban entrepreneurs have gone out of business after travel by Americans was restricted and air flights curtailed. Twenty-two agreements signed by the U.S. and Cuba to cooperate on everything from law enforcement to search and rescue to public health have been shelved, and the human rights situation has not gotten any better. There are many other examples. Through it all, our career State Department diplomats and international development professionals have sought to protect our interests and defend our values, but they are often contradicted or muzzled by the White House. Some of the best of them have resigned, rather than carry out policies they strongly disagree with. There have been some positive steps. I worked with President Obama to begin to address the problem of Agent Orange in Vietnam, and that effort has continued under President Trump. We have cleaned up contaminated former U.S. military bases, and expanded our programs to assist people with severe disabilities. This has also led to greater cooperation with Vietnam on many issues, including climate change. Regardless of who wins the presidency and who controls the Congress next year, we are at a defining moment in our history. In the years immediately ahead we will determine what we stand for, and what we want our role in the world to be. One would have thought that by the 21st Century the answers to those questions would have been irrevocably embedded in our national identity. But the statements and policies of the Trump Administration have challenged many of our assumptions and sown doubt and division, confusion and fear at home and among our allies. Those doubts have been exploited by our adversaries, by autocrats, and by demagogues. Going forward, our ability to remain a global leader, to protect our interests, and to defend fundamental rights, is derived from the credibility that comes from living up to our democratic ideals. I think our job, as the world's oldest democracy, is to show that democracy can work for everyone, and that human rights truly are universal. That has always been our assumption, but today people in many countries including some in this country associate democracy with broken promises, inequality, and chaos. And there are any number of populists and dictators who appeal to that constituency, fanning the flames of disillusionment and resentment. The dismantling of democracy, and the trend toward authoritarianism, is often gradual. It may not be apparent until it is too late, as people are enticed by zealots and despots who insist that even though they are unaccountable, they offer something better. We know that isn't true unaccountable regimes care far more about their own political and financial interests than they care about the rights and welfare of their citizens. Repression, corruption, and bigotry are their hallmarks. Each of us has a responsibility to defend the democratic principles and structures that generations of Americans and other nationalities have sacrificed to preserve, and that protect the way we choose our leaders and our right to speak freely. We must not allow those principles and structures to be undermined, and other democracies or aspiring democracies to lose confidence in the United States as a reliable global leader. It bears repeating: this is a defining moment in our history. The past three and a half years have shown how fragile our own democracy is, even after 244 years. This country is badly divided, and many seem to revel in exploiting those divisions. The very concept of United in the United States of America seems threatened. The stakes are enormous for this country, for each of us, for future generations, and for the world. Rather than replacing real policies with empty slogans, lies, and threats; rather than walking away from our alliances and international commitments; and rather than treating our relations with foreign governments as winner-take-all business transactions, solving global problems requires imagining the future and working with other nations, including those we disagree with, to create the future we want. That requires rebuilding our alliances, prioritizing the existential threats of global warming and nuclear proliferation, as well as economic inequality and human rights, and leading by example something the current Administration clearly has no interest in doing. The Vermont Council on World Affairs is one of the ways we can do that, by staying informed, sharing ideas, and planning for the future. By providing Vermonters and foreign visitors with a forum to discuss the most pressing global problems, to learn about each other's cultures, and to build relationships between people of different nationalities, ethnicities, races, and religions, the Vermont Council counters the ignorance and intolerance that are the enemies of democracy. There is no more important mission, and I thank you for what you are doing, and thank you for inviting me to join you today. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/address-on-the-passing-of-justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg,Address On The Passing Of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,2020-09-21,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.21.20 Address On The Passing Of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg . . . . Senate Floor I stand here today with an incredibly heavy heart. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a tireless, legendary champion of equality who reshaped our society for the better passed away on Friday, the first eve of Rosh Hashanah. Adherents of the Jewish faith believe that a person who passes away during the High Holidays is a person of great righteousness. Truer words couldn't be spoken of Justice Ginsburg. Standing at just over five feet tall, she was a giant among us. A moral beacon whose life and legacy have inspired millions of Americans to do their part to bring about a more just and more perfect Union. We are forever indebted to her. The Brooklyn-born daughter of working-class Jewish parents, the young girl who would become just the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court knew from early on that she would have to fight for her place in the world. And what a fighter she was. When she entered Harvard Law School in 1956, just one of nine women in a class of over five hundred, the United States was truly a man's world. Women were expected to stay home and out of the work place. Even when they had jobs, they could be fired for getting pregnant and they otherwise earned barely half of what men earned for the same work. Women couldn't get credit cards without their husbands' consent. As Justice Ginsburg would remark some years later, these and other gender-based rules helped to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage. Justice Ginsburg refused to accept the status quo. She believed unwaveringly that equal justice under law fundamentally required gender equality. When she joined the ACLU's Women's Rights Project in the early 1970s, she waged a systematic legal campaign against gender discrimination, ultimately winning five out of the six cases she took to the Supreme Court. She eloquently and incisively convinced the all-male Court to see and strike down the visible and invisible lines that kept the genders unequal. In Reed v. Reed, she convinced the Supreme Court for the very first time that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment barred discrimination on the basis of sex, enshrining constitutional protections for generations of women and men. During oral arguments, she spoke quietly yet confidently, piercing through dense legal arguments with moral clarity. In Frontiero v. Richardson, in which she convinced the Court to end gender discrimination in the administration of military benefits, her words resonate powerfully today: In asking the Court to declare sex a suspect criterion, she said, I ask no favor for my sex; all I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks. Within a few short years Justice Ginsburg had already empowered millions of American women through her zealous advocacy, granting them more autonomy over their lives, their bodies, and their careers. She was widely hailed as the Thurgood Marshall of women's rights, and could have simply rested on her laurels from that point forward. And she was just getting started. In 1980, President Carter nominated her to be an appellate judge on the D.C. Circuit. I was extremely proud to vote for her confirmation. There she developed a reputation as a pragmatic consensus seeker, often finding common ground and building friendships with conservative judges like the late Justice Scalia. It was no surprise that in 1993 President Bill Clinton selected Ruth Bader Ginsburg to be a Justice on the Supreme Court a call she took while visiting Vermont. I still vividly remember her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She was the embodiment of humility, grace, strength, and wisdom. She endured four long days of at times intense questioning from Senators on both sides of the aisle. She never once lost her poise. I thanked her for fighting for a world in which my daughter would have opportunities equal to those of my two sons. Unsurprisingly, she was confirmed by a 96 to 3 vote, becoming just the second woman to ascend to our nation's highest court. My vote for her confirmation to the Supreme Court is among the most consequential and impactful I have cast a Senator. Over the course of nearly three decades, Justice Ginsburg secured her place as one of the most ardent defenders of equal rights for all Americans in Supreme Court history. She never tired of being a voice for the voiceless, and always tried to use her power to uplift the powerless. She authored the landmark majority opinion in United States v. Virginia, striking down the Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy as unconstitutional. Her words still read like a treatise on what equality must mean in America: Laws or policies are presumptively invalid, she wrote, if they den[y] to women, simply because they are women, equal opportunity to aspire, achieve, participate in, and contribute to society. . . . Even when she was in the minority, Justice Ginsburg did not go quietly, and she always left an impact. In the Lily Ledbetter case, where the majority ruled that a claim of unequal pay was barred by an arbitrary statute of limitations, Justice Ginsburg retorted that the majority does not comprehend, or is indifferent to, the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination. She urged Congress to correct the Court's parsimonious reading. And two years later, we did just that, passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a copy of which she proudly hung in her chambers. In Shelby County v. Holder, the disastrous decision to invalidate key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, Justice Ginsberg's dissent spoke truth to power. She wrote that throwing out key provisions of the Voting Rights Act when it has worked . . . to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet. And, of course, Justice Ginsburg was right. Since that decision we have witnessed a torrent of voter suppression laws, which is why I've championed the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the VRA. These drives for change, and many others, often began with two words from the Justice wearing the bejeweled collar: I dissent. All the greatness of Justice Ginsburg was matched in spades by her authentic goodness. I'll always remember the Action for Cancer Awareness event that she and my wife Marcelle spoke at together last year. She was so genuinely kind to Marcelle, me, and all the people she interacted with. She loved people, and so it's not surprising they loved her right back. Justice Ginsburg became a beloved cultural icon, inspiring books, movies, and even Saturday Night Live skits. Her dogged, public battle with cancer and her can-do attitude she missed less than a handful of arguments despite her years-long illness inspired millions across the world. Through it all, she never lost her humility. When asked how should like to be remembered, Justice Ginsburg simply said: Just as someone who did whatever she could, with whatever limited talent she had, to move society along in the direction I would like it to be for my children and grandchildren. As I stand on the floor of the United States Senate, I can say with certainty that she will be remembered for that, and for so much more. This incredible life and legacy should be the only story of today. Sadly that is not the case. Instead of simply celebrating her life and her many contributions to our society, President Trump and the Majority Leader have forced our attention to turn to her vacancy on the Court. Immediately after news of her passing, Senator McConnell announced he would rush to replace her on the Court. Tossing aside all precedents and principles, he declared his intent to ram through a nominee no matter the cost. Despite all of Senator McConnell's talk and promises four years ago that when a vacancy arises 269 days before a presidential election, the American people should have a voice in deciding what president fills that vacancy today the Majority Leader is doing everything he can to deny the American people a voice. And this time, with just 42 days remaining before the presidential election. Seeking a fig leaf of institutional cover, today Leader McConnell is trying to conjure up yet another new rule that, essentially, there was an unspoken exception to everything he promised in 2016. Apparently the American people do not get a voice when the White House and Senate are under the control of the same party. Pay no attention to the fact that this contradicts everything Leader McConnell and other Republicans claimed to believe ad nauseum for 10 months in 2016. But even this desperate hair splitting falls flat on its face. If the Majority Leader's 2016 rule to let the American people decide only applies when there is a divided government, then the unprecedented 10-month blockade of Merrick Garland contradicted the confirmation of Justice Kennedy by a Democratic Senate during an election year in 1988. The Majority Leader's abrupt about face is not about following precedent. And it certainly isn't about principle. The blatant hypocrisy and the belief that norms and principles apply only to the other party, or apply only when nothing is at stake is the result of something even more insidious. It is the direct result of the President and Majority Leader wanting to bend the courts to their will no matter the cost. No matter the cost for the Senate. And no matter the cost for our courts. I will have much more to say about this. Make no mistake, the actions that we take during these waning days of the Trump administration will forever stain, or redeem, this institution in which we proudly serve. The 100 members of this body represent 330 million Americans. We are entrusted to act in their best interests. Through our actions in the weeks ahead, we risk forever eroding the American people's trust and faith in our independent judiciary. And our actions will have a lasting impact for good, or for ill on every American's most basic rights rights of equality and fairness that Justice Ginsburg spent a lifetime securing. But today I simply seek to honor Justice Ginsburg. She dedicated her life to the causes of equality and justice and made both a reality for millions of Americans. She has left us a rich legacy to cherish and, more importantly, to carry forward. We will forever be in her debt. A generation more than a generation of women, and all Americans, have been inspired by her leadership and courage. Generations to come will have her trailblazing legacy to thank. Let us honor her memory by following her example by recommitting ourselves to pursuing a more perfect Union. Not just for the few. No, not just for the few, but for all. # # # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-the-continuing-resolution,Statement On The Continuing Resolution,2020-09-21,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.21.20 Statement On The Continuing Resolution I am glad that the House introduced a continuing resolution today. I strongly urge Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate to take it up and pass it as soon as possible. The last thing our country needs is a government shutdown in the middle of a global pandemic and an unprecedented economic crisis. But make no mistake, the urgent need for this continuing resolution is a symptom of a dysfunctional Congress. It's a senseless and entirely avoidable made-in-Washington crisis. The Senate Appropriations Committee should have been allowed to do its work and complete all 12 appropriations bills months ago. The majority of these bills would have had strong bipartisan support. Instead, we are left with a continuing resolution that kicks the can down the road and offers no helping hand to the millions of Americans who are suffering during this pandemic. Today, schools are struggling to safely educate our nation's children in both the classroom and remotely without enough funding to do so. Lines at food banks are at historic levels. Families are struggling to pay rent and eviction moratoriums have expired across the country. States do not have the money they need to safely carry out an election that is only 43 days away and in the middle of a pandemic. Without a legislative change extending critical deadlines, our ability to achieve a fair and accurate count in the 2020 Census remains at risk. The American people are suffering. It is infuriating that Republicans refuse to acknowledge this reality. Yet, instead of doing their job and considering and passing full-year appropriations bills and a desperately needed COVID relief bill, Senate Republicans have focused this year almost entirely on packing the courts with right-wing, extreme judges. Faced with an unprecedented health and economic crisis, does this spur Republicans to action? No. What does? A Supreme Court vacancy in an election year that under their own precedent should not be filled until the American people have their say in November. All of a sudden they are ready to get to work. It's shameful. Congress is failing the American people because Republicans, led by President Trump, care more about securing a hyper-partisan Supreme Court than the health and safety of the American people. I am urging Republicans and Democrats to pass this continuing resolution so that we do not fail them further. # # # # # 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-passing-supreme-court-justice-ruth-bader,Statement of Rep. Peter Welch on the Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,2020-09-19,2020,2020-09,Democrat,Senate,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tonight is a devastating night for our country. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg may have been small in stature, but she was a titan of jurisprudence. A pioneer from the earliest days of her career, she won a landmark case for women's rights in 1971, before being appointed to the highest court in the land in 1993. She served with distinction, never letting her colleagues forget the huge impacts that the law has on the most vulnerable among us. I join all Vermonters in expressing gratitude for her service and heartfelt condolences to her family. As the Senate carefully considers a replacement, it is clear that they must adhere to the McConnell Standard,' and wait until the new year to make their decision. We are at the doorstep of one of the most important elections of our lifetime. In his own words, Senator McConnell has made clear that he is content to let the American people decide. The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the nominee the next president nominates, whoever that might be. There can be no vote in the Senate until the American people have voted to decide who will nominate and confirm the next Supreme Court Justice. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peter-welch-introduces-bill-extend-deadline-vermont-use-coronavirus,Rep. Peter Welch Introduces Bill to Extend Deadline for Vermont to Use Coronavirus Relief Funds,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch on Friday introduced legislation to extend the deadline for state and local governments to use funds appropriated by the CARES Act. Currently, the state and local relief funds from the CARES Act must be used by December 31st, making it impossible to complete long-term recovery projects. Rep. Welch's bill would fix that by authorizing the use of these funds through September 30, 2021. Our state and local communities need help to get through this unprecedented and challenging time, said Welch. But implementing the changes needed to cope with the disruptions to our lives, work and communities caused by the coronavirus pandemic will take time. From implementing broadband projects to continuing safe school re-openings, this bill will give Vermont the flexibility it needs to use the funds passed by Congress in the CARES Act. Extending the deadline to use these funds will help complete important projects but it is no substitute for the badly needed additional aid included in the House passed Heroes Act. We must pass another relief package without delay. Through more than 100 meetings with Vermonters across the state, Rep. Welch has identified several areas that will benefit from extending the CARES Act deadline. Among them are: Broadband projects that often take longer to complete. With remote work and school, reliable internet has become more important than ever. Help for the homeless and other housing projects that need assistance past December 31st. Keeping children safe during the second semester of school, including HVAC and other safety upgrades that are constrained by an end of year deadline. Agricultural Support programs that are still determining farm needs and adjustments. Adjustments to seating and other safety improvements for the State Legislature and other state agencies. Some state IT projects critical to delivering services to Vermonters. Full text of the bill is here. It is cosponsored by Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-the-passing-of-justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg,Comment On The Passing Of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.18.20 Comment On The Passing Of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Marcelle and I are overcome with sadness. Almost exactly a year ago Marcelle introduced Justice Ginsburg during an Action For Cancer Awareness event, a memory that Marcelle will always treasure. Justice Ginsburg was brilliant and was a legend of the law. She has become a heroine and even an icon to millions of Americans. She was also unmistakably kind and funny, and a fundamentally decent human being. Difficult days are ahead. And Senators McConnell and Graham must not treat this President's Supreme Court nominees differently than President Obama's Supreme Court nominees. They must exhibit a shred of integrity and recognize that abandoning their word now, and breaking all precedents by ramming a nominee through most likely after the election would cause the nation tremendous pain. But tonight I will simply reflect on Justice Ginsburg's life and legacy. I am so thankful for every day she spent here with us, serving the American people with unparalleled grace, integrity, and an unyielding sense of equality and justice. May she rest in peace and power. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-co-leads-letter-pressing-dhs-inspector-general-for-swift-investigation-into-alleged-forced-hysterectomies,Leahy Co-Leads Letter Pressing DHS Inspector General For Swift Investigation Into Alleged Forced Hysterectomies,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.18.20 Leahy Co-Leads Letter Pressing DHS Inspector General For Swift Investigation Into Alleged Forced Hysterectomies WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020) On Friday, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), joined by 37 senators, called on the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general to expeditiously investigate a whistleblower complaint alleging forced hysterectomies at an ICE facility and conduct a nationwide review of reproductive health policies and practices at ICE facilities. Senator Leahy said: Forced sterilization procedures are abhorrent human rights violations and have been an instrument of genocides around the world. We must never tolerate such practices here in the United States especially not at the hands of those acting on behalf of our own government. These allegations must swiftly be investigated, and any individuals found responsible for these human rights violations must be held accountable. The senators wrote: Forced sterilizations infringe on reproductive rights and autonomy. To understand whether such violations may have been committed against immigrants in our federal government's custody, the Inspector General's Office should immediately investigate the reproductive health policies and practices at the ICDC and at other facilities, including but not limited to, all instances of forced, coerced, or medically unnecessary hysterectomies. In addition to Senators Leahy, Feinstein, Murray, Casey and Booker, the letter was signed by Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Jack Reed (D-R.I), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). A link the letter can be found here. Full text of the letter follows: September 18, 2020 Hon. Joseph V. Cuffari Inspector General Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW Washington, DC 20528-0305 Dear Mr. Cuffari: The Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General should expeditiously conduct a thorough investigation into a whistleblower complaint alleging forced hysterectomies and other egregious abuses at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) in Ocilla, Georgia. LaSalle Corrections operates that facility for the federal government, including for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The alleged abuses detailed in the complaint and in related reports must be thoroughly and swiftly investigated to protect the rights and safety of women and patients in our nation's care. The whistleblower expressed alarm about the rate at which the hysterectomies have occurred at the facility. Specifically, the complaint alleges that between October and December 2019 at least five women detained at the ICDC received hysterectomies. When asked about the procedures, however, the women reacted confused when explaining why they had one done. The complaint also describes how a gynecologist once removed the wrong ovary on a young woman, causing her to go back to take out the left and she wound up with a total hysterectomy, leaving her unable to bear children. Another detained woman who received a hysterectomy recounted that medical personnel did not properly explain to her what procedure she was going to have done. Although she asked for more information about why she was receiving a hysterectomy, she was given three different responses by three different individuals. When the woman told a nurse that the procedure isn't for me, the nurse responded by getting angry and agitated. Forced sterilizations infringe on reproductive rights and autonomy. To understand whether such violations may have been committed against immigrants in our federal government's custody, the Inspector General's Office should immediately investigate the reproductive health policies and practices at the ICDC and at other ICE facilities, including but not limited to, all instances of forced, coerced, or medically unnecessary hysterectomies. In addition to thoroughly investigating the recent alleged abuses at the ICDC, we urge you to immediately conduct a national review of reproductive health policies and practices at ICE facilities to ensure that the human rights of women in federal immigration custody are assured. If you have any questions or would like to discuss compliance with this request, please contact Kara Lynum with Senator Feinstein's Judiciary Committee staff at (202) 224-7703, Rajiv Venkataramanan with Senator Leahy's Judiciary Committee staff at (202) 224-3466, Danny Smith with Senator Booker's Judiciary Committee staff at (202) 224-7842, Jaron Goddard with Senator Murray's office at (202) 224-6935, or Julia Sferlazzo with Senator Casey's office at (202) 224-4195. Sincerely, #####",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/leahy-sanders-welch-introduce-bill-give-states-greater-control-over,"Leahy, Sanders, Welch Introduce Bill to Give States Greater Control Over Reactor Shutdown Plans",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today introduced the Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2020, which gives states a meaningful role in the development and approval of reactor shutdown plans and post-shutdown license transfers. Leahy said: The closure of Vermont Yankee has shown us how much local communities have at stake, in both the short and long term, when a plant shuts down, and also the great value that local leaders and citizens can offer at every step of the decommissioning process. This legislation brings the benefits of those lessons to provide host communities across the United States a seat at the table. Communities experiencing the safety and economic impacts of nuclear plant decommissioning deserve dedicated economic relief and a role in shaping those decommissioning plans for nuclear reactors near them, especially in light of the coronavirus and climate change crises, Sanders said. This input is especially critical given the potential for non-operational plants to sit for decades before removal and decontamination. The Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2020 would transform a process that is weighted almost entirely toward the power plant licensees into one that strikes a reasonable balance between licensees and the impacted communities. Vermonters know first-hand that decommissioning a nuclear power plant has enormous economic and environmental impacts on states and neighboring communities, said Welch. It is essential that state and local leaders have a seat at the table throughout the decommissioning process. This commonsense legislation ensures the decommissioning process is transparent, inclusive and collaborative. The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon was shuttered at the end of 2014 and ownership of the decommissioned plant was transferred in 2019. This bill would give affected states like Vermont an opportunity to weigh in on the new shutdown plan if there is a license transfer or other significant change to the decommissioning plan. The legislation would require licensees to consult with the host state as well as state governments within 50 miles of the plant when drafting a proposed decommissioning plan, as well as require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to solicit public input on the proposed decommissioning plan. The NRC would have to evaluate and formally adopt or reject the input of the affected states. The measure would also create several new grant programs to foster communication and information exchange between licensees and communities impacted by plant decommissioning and stranded nuclear waste, and to provide economic assistance to impacted communities. It is co-sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sen. Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. King (I-Maine), Sen. Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Engel (D-N.Y.) in the U.S. House. If a host state supports the proposed plan or license transfer, the licensee can secure expedited NRC approval. Otherwise, the NRC must consider amending the proposed plan based on the host state's recommendations. To read a one page summary of the bill, click here. To read the full text of the bill, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/as-new-school-year-begins-leahy-joins-senators-markey-schumer-cantwell-van-hollen-bennet-hassan-schatz-and-other-senators-in-demanding-urgent-action-by-fcc-to-connect-students-to-online-learning,"As New School Year Begins, Leahy Joins Senators Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Van Hollen, Bennet, Hassan, Schatz And Other Senators In Demanding Urgent Action By FCC To Connect Students To Online Learning",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.17.20 As New School Year Begins, Leahy Joins Senators Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Van Hollen, Bennet, Hassan, Schatz And Other Senators In Demanding Urgent Action By FCC To Connect Students To Online Learning . . . . FCC need not, and should not, wait for Congress to act to close the homework gap Washington (September 17, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Thursday joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led29 of their colleagues in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to immediately utilize the E-Rate program to provide internet connectivity to students at home. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, students across the country are increasingly attending virtual classrooms. Yet, studies indicate that as many as 16 million children in the United States lack internet access at home and are unable to participate in online learning. These students are disproportionally from communities of color, low-income households, and rural areas. The E-Rate Program is, and has been for more than two decades, an essential source of funding to connect the nation's K-12 schools and libraries to the internet. The FCC has clear authority and available funding under the E-Rate program to provide connections at students' homes which, because schools have had to close their doors, have become de facto classrooms. However, the FCC has narrowly construed its ability to act during the current emergency, needlessly leaving millions of children at risk of falling behind in their studies. The FCC has the power to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on our most vulnerable families, write the lawmakers in their letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. We now urge you in the strongest possible terms to utilize this authority to provide internet connectivity and devices for children in need. School bells across the country have started to ring, but without immediate action, many students are at risk of never making it to class. A copy of the letter can be found HERE. The letter is also signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D.N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Udall (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bob Casey, Jr, (D-Penn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Every Senator who signed today's letter also co-sponsored the Emergency Educational Connections Act, legislation that would appropriate at least $4 billion to be delivered through the E-Rate program to equip students with internet connectivity and devices during the ongoing pandemic. These lawmakers are fighting to ensure that Congress enacts this legislation as part of the next coronavirus relief package. However, the FCC need not and should not wait for Congress to act. Senator Markey is the author of the original E-Rate program, which was created as a part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The program is designed to connect schools and libraries to the Internet, as well as ensure access for low-income students and families. Prior to E-Rate, only 14 percent of K-12 classrooms had Internet access. Today, Americans benefit from near ubiquitous deployment in schools and libraries. Since the E-Rate began nearly two decades ago, more than $52 billion has been committed nationwide, including nearly $740 million in Massachusetts, to provide internet access for schools and libraries. ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-all-judiciary-committee-democrats-call-for-review-of-political-interference-in-the-durham-investigation,Leahy And All Judiciary Committee Democrats Call For Review Of Political Interference In The Durham Investigation,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.17.20 Leahy And All Judiciary Committee Democrats Call For Review Of Political Interference In The Durham Investigation WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday joined Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and all 10 committee Democrats in calling on the Justice Department inspector general to review whether U.S. Attorney John Durham's probe into FBI activities is violating longstanding rules that protect criminal investigations from political influence. Their letter follows reports that Durham's top deputy resigned due to concerns that Durham is being pressured to issue a report before the upcoming election. [Recent] actions suggest that the Durham investigation is being misused for partisan political purposes and undermine the legitimacy of any investigative steps Mr. Durham takes. In addition, it remains unclear what rules and authority permit the public release of a report' by U.S. Attorney Durham, raising additional concerns about the legitimacy of his appointment and work, the senators wrote. We therefore request that your office investigate whether the Durham investigation has operated consistent with Department rules governing the appointment of U.S. Attorneys and the Department's rules on public statements concerning pending investigations, taking action that may impact an upcoming election, and White House-Department communications concerning pending criminal investigations. Full text of the letter follows: September 17, 2020 The Honorable Michael E. Horowitz Inspector General United States Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20530 Dear Inspector General Horowitz: We write to request that you investigate whether U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation complies with Department of Justice policies, including policies that protect criminal investigations from political influence. The Department's mission to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans requires that its prosecutorial decisions be insulated from political influence. To that end, longstanding rules restrain Department personnel from publicly commenting on pending investigations, taking actions that may affect an upcoming election, and communicating with the White House about ongoing criminal investigations. [Justice Manual 9-11.130, 9-16.500, 9-27.760; 6/2018 OIG Report, pp. 17-18; 5/11/2009 Holder Memo] Recent reports suggest that Attorney General William Barr and other Trump administration officials are violating these longstanding rules. For example: Nora Dannehy, a respected career prosecutor and Durham's former top assistant, reportedly resigned from the Department out of concern that Durham is being pressed for political reasons to produce a report before its work is done and before the 2020 election. [Hartford Courant, 9/11/2020] Attorney General Barr has repeatedly commented on the Durham investigation and recently promised that there are going to be developments, significant developments, before the election. [Real Clear Politics, 8/14/2020] White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows recently told the press that he had seen documents related to the Durham investigation that spell trouble for Obama-era officials. [Fox News, 9/6/2020] These actions suggest that the Durham investigation is being misused for partisan political purposes and undermine the legitimacy of any investigative steps Mr. Durham takes. In addition, it remains unclear what rules and authority permit the public release of a report by U.S. Attorney Durham, raising additional concerns about the legitimacy of his appointment and work. We therefore request that your office investigate whether the Durham investigation has operated consistent with Department rules governing the appointment of U.S. Attorneys and the Department's rules on public statements concerning pending investigations, taking action that may impact an upcoming election, and White House-Department communications concerning pending criminal investigations. Sincerely, Dianne Feinstein Ranking Member Patrick Leahy United States Senator Richard J. Durbin United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse United States Senator Amy Klobuchar United States Senator Christopher A. Coons United States Senator Richard Blumenthal United States Senator Mazie K. Hirono United States Senator Cory A. Booker United States Senator Kalama D. Harris United States Senator ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-joins-in-urging-trump-to-work-with-congress-to_provide-emergency-rental-assistance-protections,"Leahy Joins In Urging Trump To Work With Congress To Provide Emergency Rental Assistance, Protections",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.17.20 Leahy Joins In Urging Trump To Work With Congress To Provide Emergency Rental Assistance, Protections . . . . Vulnerable Infants, Children, Young Adults, Caregivers, Parents Facing Unprecedented Economic Strain amid Public Health Crisis WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, led 30 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact legislation that provides the emergency assistance and protections renters need to stay in their homes. Millions of children and youth are at risk of being evicted from their homes due to the Trump administration's refusal to support critical rental assistance and relief measures to protect their health and well-being during this pandemic. Even before the pandemic, a quarter of all renters were spending half their incomes on housing, and more than 20 million children lived in households that struggled to afford housing, wrote the senators. This pandemic is not only revealing the inequities in our society, but exacerbating them. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that nearly 1-in-5 renters were behind on rent in July. This hardship fell more heavily on Black and brown renters and families with children, among whom more than 1-in-4 had fallen behind on rent. Along with Brown, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Gary Peters (D-MI). In May, Brown applauded the House of Representatives for itsHeroes Act, which includes Senator Brown's rental assistance bill and several key priorities and much-needed relief for Ohio workers, small businesses, and communities. TheHeroes Actwould provide financial assistance for state and local governments, essential workers, testing and contact tracing efforts, direct cash payments, worker safety provisions, housing assistance, small business relief, and more. Brown has repeatedly called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Senate back from recess so Congress can do its job and pass a COVID-19 relief bill. A full copy of the letter can be found here and below: September 17, 2020 President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump: Millions of children and youth remain at-risk of being evicted from their homes without critical rental assistance to help them or their caregivers pay their bills. Americans deserve better. Senate Republicans ignored calls from across the countryfrom parents, advocates, young people, and housing providers for rental assistance, and instead introduced a proposal that is out of touch with the experiences of American households, leaving millions of people behind. Your Administration recently issued an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instituting a federal rental eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020 for nonpayment of rent. While we appreciate the order's recognition that evictions pose a grave threat to individuals' and public health, and that as many as 3040 million people, are at risk of eviction, this action does not include any new funding to help people pay their rent so they can remain in their homes once the moratorium expires. In addition, the order does not prohibit landlords from charging late penalties and fees to renters who are struggling to pay rent. Today, millions of households are facing impossible choices between paying the rent or mortgage, or purchasing food or medicine. Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads and an economic crisis that continues to deepen, we urge you to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact legislation that provides the emergency assistance renters need to stay in their homes. Even before the pandemic, a quarter of all renters were spending half their incomes on housing, and more than 20 million children lived in households that struggled to afford housing.[1] This pandemic is not only revealing the inequities in our society, but exacerbating them. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that nearly 1-in-5 renters were behind on rent in July. This hardship fell more heavily on Black and brown renters and families with children, among whom more than 1-in-4 had fallen behind on rent.[2] Black or Hispanic households with children are more than twice as likely to be behind on their rent or mortgage or struggle to get enough to eat.[3] Research also shows that these circumstances too often lead to housing instability. We've seen how housing instability works hand-in-hand with overrepresentation of Black and Hispanic families in the child welfare system, as families experiencing housing instability are more likely to be investigated by child welfare and have their children removed and placed in foster care compared to families with low incomes who have stable housing.[4] And for those children that live with their grandparents, we see them empty their savings only to lose their homes and move to temporary hotels or motels, forcing them to convert these time-limited living spaces into classrooms and bedrooms to create safe places for their grandchildren during this pandemic.[5] We know before the pandemic young people with foster care experiences struggled with housing instability and recent surveys reveal that more than 40 percent of young people report immediate or pending loss of housing as a result of the public health crisis.[6] Without rental assistance for these young people and families, they will be forced to accrue insurmountable debt, fees, and fines, potentially post-dating evictions until the first of the year. Evictions have mental health implications for children as well as mothers who experience higher rates of depression months after being forced out of their home, which negatively impacts children's development.[7] Child health disparities, as a result of evictions, are compounded by the economic hardships faced by parents who are left with court orders and judgements that make it harder to secure new housing and maintain stable employment. While parents and students across the country face uncertainty this school year, children who are evicted or move because they can no longer afford rent may be forced to switch schools, resulting in greater disruptions in their academic achievement. Evictions during a pandemic have even more severe negative implications for children. Families who are evicted are forced to move in with others in overcrowded residences, or move to hotel rooms, shelters, cars or other situations, making remote learning for children and social distancing nearly impossible. More than 20 million renters have experienced a job loss due to the pandemic, putting millions of households at risk of eviction in the coming months.[8] As unemployment remains high and millions of families with children struggle to make ends meet, it is critical that your Administration and Senate Republicans return to the negotiating table and work to provide at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help millions including families with children keep a roof over their heads. Four months ago, the House passed the HEROES Act, which includes rental assistance, a uniform national eviction moratorium through March 27, 2021, and funds supporting homelessness service organizations and affordable housing providers who continue to make safe, affordable housing available for the families, youth, and individuals they serve. It is past time to negotiate comprehensive legislation that will provide renters with the assistance they desperately need. Housing instability and threat of evictions exemplify how the pandemic is falling hardest on the most vulnerable Americans, especially our children. Disruptions to every aspect of children's lives will have lasting, detrimental effects on their health, safety, and future success. We urge you to act now and in good faith to minimize the impact of this unprecedented public health pandemic on our children's future. Sincerely, ### [1] Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center, Children Living in Households with a High Housing Cost Burden in the United States, January 2020, available at: https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7244-children-living-in-households-with-a-high-housing-cost-burden?loc=1&loct=1#detailed/1/any/false/37,871,870,573,869,36,868,867/any/14287,14288 [6] Johanna K.P. Greeson, Sara Jaffee, Sarah Wasch, The Experiences of Foster Youth During COVID-19, Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice, and Research, May 2020. [7] Matthew Desmond and Rachel Tolbert Kimbro, Eviction's Fallout: Housing Hardship, and Health, Social Forces, 1-30, 2015.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-welch-kuster-pappas-and-pingree-applaud-decision-lift,"Representatives Welch, Kuster, Pappas and Pingree Applaud Decision to Lift Canadian Aluminum Tariff",2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt.-At Large), Annie Kuster (D-N.H.-2), Chellie Pingree (D- Maine-1) and Chris Pappas (D- N.H.-1) applauded the Trump administration's decision to suspend a 10% tariff on Canadian aluminum imports. The decision comes just days after the representatives wrote President Trump supporting the request of Governors Scott, Sununu and Mills to lift the tariffs. We are pleased that by working together with our governors and congressional delegations, we succeeded in reversing this harmful tariff on Canadian aluminum imports, said Welch, Kuster, Pingree and Pappas. This is an important victory for our regional economy and for the continued close cooperation with Canada. Trade with Canada is critical for Vermont's and our neighboring border states' economies, said Governor Scott. This is why Governor Mills, Governor Sununu and I advocated for this policy change, and I was grateful Congressman Welch and his colleagues did so as well. Reversing these tariffs is beneficial for many Vermont businesses, and I appreciate the White House taking this important step. Recently, Representatives Welch and Kuster, separately, discussed cross border trade issues with David Alward, Canadian Consul General to New England, and the impact that an escalated trade war would have on the regional economy. The members reiterated the importance of trade for local businesses and the need for a continued strong trading partnership between the United States and Canada. You can read the full letter sent by the representatives on September 11th here. You can read the full letter sent by Governors Scott, Sununu and Mills here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-other-leading-democratic-senators-decry-trump-administration-on-expulsion-of-asylum-seekers-from-venezuela-cuba-and-nicaragua-,"Leahy And Other Leading Democratic Senators Decry Trump Administration On Expulsion Of Asylum Seekers From Venezuela, Cuba, And Nicaragua",2020-09-15,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.15.20 Leahy And Other Leading Democratic Senators Decry Trump Administration On Expulsion Of Asylum Seekers From Venezuela, Cuba, And Nicaragua WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020) Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in calling on the Trump administration to end its anti-immigrant policies denying access to asylum for Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and others forced to flee their countries. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans Chad Wolf, the Senators decried the Trump administration's policy of forcing legal asylum seekers into dangerous cities in Mexico and its record of deporting them back to the dictatorships they fled. The administration's policies to expel and endanger refugees and asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and other countries send a message of callousness, cruelty, and disregard for human rights that feeds our adversaries' agenda to cast doubt on the United States' exceptional role as a beacon of freedom and democracy, the Senators wrote. The Senators expressed concern that the Trump administration is forcing these vulnerable migrants back to some of Mexico's most violent cities, where they are reportedly subjected to extortion and kidnapping by organized criminal groups. Added the Senators, We fail to see how denying protection and inflicting further suffering on Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans and others fleeing brutal regimes serves U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian interests. The Senators also condemned the administration's record of deporting individuals and families back to the dictatorships they were forced to flee, what would amount to a violation of U.S. law prohibiting refoulement. A copy of the letter may be found HERE and below: Secretary Pompeo and Under Secretary Wolf: Given the Trump administration's efforts to deny access to asylum in the United States, we write to express our profound concern for the safety of Venezuelan, Cuban, Nicaraguan and other refugees and asylum seekers. This Administration's policies including metering, the Remain in Mexico policy, and Title 42 expulsions - are forcing thousands of individuals fleeing persecution, torture, and oppression into dangerous conditions that threaten their lives and freedom and undermine U.S. foreign policy goals. Through these policies, the Trump administration is routinely forcing Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and others seeking asylum back to Mexico's most violent cities, where they are reportedly preyed upon by organized criminal groups who extort and kidnap them for ransom. For example, during just half of last year, U.S. officials forced more than 7,300 Cubans back to Mexico.[1] In fiscal year 2020, the Trump administration already has expelled over 147,000 asylum seekers and migrants from our southern border,[2] including untold numbers of Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans. This is deeply troubling given reports that more than 1,110 asylum seekers and migrants returned to Mexico have been murdered, raped, tortured, kidnapped, or violently assaulted.[3] Many Mexican migration officials have been charged with corruption, and Mexico apparently is unable to adequately protect migrants from such crimes.[4],[5] We are troubled by reports that Venezuelan women and girls arriving at the U.S. borderwho had the courage to flee dictatorship and to escape criminal violence and human trafficking by illegal armed groupsare now being pushed back by the Trump administration to face similar threats of organized crime and violence in Mexico.[6],[7] With evidence of cooperation between transnational criminal organizations operating in Venezuela and Mexico's border regions, delivering these women and girls back into territory controlled by such perpetrators is simply unconscionable. At the migrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico, several health clinic volunteers are Cuban asylum seekers who were sent to Venezuela by the Cuban government to serve as doctors and nurses, and subsequently fled authoritarianism in both countries.[8] These medical professionals are the very victims of human trafficking that you have purportedly sought to defend, yet the Trump administration forced them back to dangerous conditions in Mexico. Moreover, the Trump administration has taken the egregious step of sending Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and others directly back into the hands of the persecutors and torturers they fled. Already this fiscal year, the United States has deported over 100 Venezuelans, over 1,300 Cubans, and nearly 1,000 Nicaraguans the vast majority of whom had no criminal convictions[9] yet many now may face retaliation at home. A recent U.S. deportation flight contained more than 100 Nicaraguan dissidents who had fled to the U.S. border following detention, beatings, and in some cases - torture by President Ortega's regime.[10] Their return to Nicaragua means these refugees may be more likely than not to be persecuted and tortured again. We fail to see how denying protection and inflicting further suffering on Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans serves U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian interests. The Administration's actions appear to violate U.S. law prohibiting refoulementthe forcible return of refugees to a place where their lives or freedom would be threatened. And they undermine the United States' longstanding bipartisan tradition of standing in solidarity with individuals fleeing repression. The Administration's policies to expel and endanger refugees and asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and other countries send a message of callousness, cruelty, and disregard for human rights that feeds our adversaries' agenda to cast doubt on the United States' exceptional role as a beacon of freedom and democracy. We urge you to end these policies immediately and to uphold the right to seek asylum in the United States. Sincerely, ### [1] Gamez Torres, Nora. After drastic policy changes, more than 20,000 Cuban asylum seekers are fighting deportation, Miami Herald, January 16, 2020. [4] Maureen Meyer and Gina Hinojosa, Mexico's Human Rights Landscape During Lpez Obrador's First Year in Office, WOLA, November 26, 2019. [8] Hennessy-Fiske, Molly. Cuban doctors and nurses seeking asylum keep border clinic running during pandemic, Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2020. [10] Sieff, Kevin. She fled torture in Nicaragua, only to be sent back, Washington Post, August 30, 2020, p. 1.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-kuster-pappas-and-pingree-send-letter-trump-opposing-tariffs,"Welch, Kuster, Pappas and Pingree Send Letter to Trump Opposing Tariffs on Canadian Aluminum",2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt.-At Large), Annie Kuster (D-N.H.-2), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.-1) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-1) on Friday sent a letter to President Trump asking him to reverse his decision to impose a 10% tariff on Canadian aluminum imports. The letter expresses full support of the letter sent by the Governors of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine requesting that the President remove the tariff on Canadian aluminum. This tariff is extremely detrimental to the economies of our states and the close and mutually beneficial relationship our states have enjoyed with Canada, our major trading partner, wrote the Representatives. It is imperative that our states continue to expand and strengthen our economic and social ties with Canada. The tariff weakens that bond. You can read the full letter here. Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) sent a letter with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) and Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) on September 8th. You can read that letter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-the-green-mountain-national-forest-construction-of-long-sought-forest-hq-will-begin-this-month,Leahy And The Green Mountain National Forest: Construction Of Long-Sought Forest HQ Will Begin This Month,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.10.20 Leahy And The Green Mountain National Forest: Construction Of Long-Sought Forest HQ Will Begin This Month . . . . A New Gateway To A Natural Resource That's The Legacy Of Every Vermonter' (THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020) -- The U.S. Forest Service will begin construction this month of a new Forest Supervisor's Headquarters building for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests (GMNF). The $6 million facility will be built on Route 4 in Mendon. Senator Patrick Leahy and the GMNF made the announcement on Thursday. Leahy has worked for years to support and advance this project, using his key roles as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and as the senior member and former chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry. Leahy has made a high priority of securing a visitor-friendly, federally owned GMNF Headquarters, which can also serve as a gateway to what he has long seen as a tremendous natural resource that is part of the legacy of every Vermonter. The new GMNF Headquarters will be an 11,550-square-foot federal building located on National Forest Service land, on Route 4 in Mendon. The state-of-the-art building will provide a greatly enhanced experience for visitors and a more efficient work environment for Forest Service staff. A local company, VMS Construction of Rutland, was awarded the contract for the site preparation work, which will begin this month and continue through this Fall season. The project has been planned by the Forest Service for about 15 years and will now be built as the result of directive language and funding that Leahy secured in the Forest Service's annual funding bill. Construction on the building itself will begin next Spring. The overall project cost will be about $6 million. Leahy said: This new state-of-the-art headquarters for the Green Mountain National Forest will support Vermont's vital outdoor recreation, timber sectors, and serve to highlight our state's proud legacy of conservation.It will be a gateway to our National Forest,and will improve its hardworking staff's efficiency and enhance the experience of Vermonters and tourists who visit and use this invaluable resource. The GMNF headquarters has been housed in leased office space in Rutland for many years. The new location, in the National Forest itself, will provide more scenic views and the opportunity for trails and outdoor exhibits and other interpretive experiences. There will be long-term cost savings from the use of this new energy-efficient and federally-owned facility. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/schatz-senators-demand-answers-from-census-bureau-on-how-they-will-ensure-fair-count-accurate-apportionmen-of-congressional-representation-in-2020-census,"Schatz, Senators Demand Answers From Census Bureau On How They Will Ensure Fair Count, Accurate Apportionmen Of Congressional Representation In 2020 Census",2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.10.20 Schatz, Senators Demand Answers From Census Bureau On How They Will Ensure Fair Count, Accurate Apportionmen Of Congressional Representation In 2020 Census WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led a group of 19 senators in calling on the Census Bureau to provide more details on how they plan to use data from the 2020 Census to apportion congressional representation. This comes after multiple attempts by President Trump to interfere with the count for political purposes, as well as the limitations on conducting the census in full during the coronavirus pandemic. With the president's unconstitutional memorandum excluding undocumented people from apportionment, coupled with your agency's decision to end the 2020 Census count one month early, we also raise serious concerns about a fair and accurate distribution of congressional representation,the senators wrote. In their letter to Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, the senators are asking for answers on the data and methodologies that the bureau will use to decide how many members of the House of Representatives each state will receive in the 118th Congress. They highlight concerns about how only certain states are sharing citizenship information and the data acquired could be inconsistent, unreliable, or incompletewhich may lead to an inaccurate distribution of congressional representation. The resulting reapportionment report submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives by the president will be an inaccurate, arbitrary, and unconstitutional distribution of congressional seats across the country,the senators wrote. In addition to Senator Schatz, the letter was signed by Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), MartinHeinrich(D-N.M.), Mazie K.Hirono(D-Hawaii), TimKaine(D-Va.), BernieSanders(I-Vt.), and JackyRosen(D-Nev.). The full text of the letter can be found below and is available here. Dear Director Dillingham: We write to raise concerns about the data and methodologies that the Census Bureau will use to develop apportionment counts for each of the states. With the president's unconstitutional memorandum excluding undocumented people from apportionment, coupled with your agency's decision to end the 2020 Census count one month early, we also raise serious concerns about a fair and accurate distribution of congressional representationa fundamental and crucial aspect of our constitutional democracy. From the time of our founding, the Constitution established a democracy premised on the idea that all personsno matter where they are from, regardless of whether they can votedeserve representation in our government. To ensure representation for all, the Constitution, through both Article I, Section 2 and the Fourteenth Amendment, explicitly requires the federal government to accurately conduct an actual Enumeration of the people. The Fourteenth Amendment places a clear duty on the federal government to count the whole number of persons in each State. In other words, the federal government must count all people living in the United States, whether they are citizens or non-citizens, whether they were born in the United States or in a distant part of the world, whether they are living here in accordance with our laws or not. Furthermore, the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment considered immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, as people entitled to equal representation, insisting that the whole immigrant population should be numbered with the people and counted as part of them. The Supreme Court has affirmed this constitutional understanding, emphasizing that the Framers chose to use population . . . as the basis for representation, and that representatives serve all residents, not just those eligible or registered to vote. Following the Supreme Court's ruling to block this administration's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, the president issued an executive order directing Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to collect citizenship information from other governmental sources. Per this directive, the Census Bureau has amassed a collection of administrative records from various sourcessome from existing agreements with federal, state, and local agencies, and others from newly established partnerships. However, the collection of citizenship information is not uniform across the country. This raises the prospect that the Census Bureau will have incomplete information as to the citizenship status of all persons residing in the country. For example, some federal agencies have agreed to share citizenship information with the Census Bureau. However, a person's immigration status can change over time. The administrative data on a person is only as good as the moment when the agency interacts with that person. For example, a person who entered the country without documentation may have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protection, or may have started a path to citizenship by serving in the military, or may have been granted asylum protection. Depending on when a person interacts with an agency, their status may be very different from what it is currently. At the same time, not every state is sharing citizenship data. States such as Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and South Dakota agreed to share driver's license and state identification card information. But states like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Illinois denied the Census Bureau's request to share information. Furthermore, state administrative data on citizenship can be unreliable and inaccurate. As a result, your agency will have arbitrarily collected information based on state officials who decide to share or not information about their citizens, some of which will contain citizenship information, and some will not. This arbitrary collection of citizenship information implicates the president's unconstitutional attempt to exclude undocumented people from fair representation in the Congress.Apportionment is a geographic division of congressional seats. If only certain states are sharing citizenship informationand the data shared is itself unreliable or inaccurateand federal data sets do not capture all persons in the country, then the data available to the Census Bureau for apportionment tabulation will be incomplete and run afoul of the Constitution. The resulting reapportionment report submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives by the president will be an inaccurate, arbitrary, and unconstitutional distribution of congressional seats across the country, based on states that either had or did not have citizenship information for selected portions of their population. An arbitrary collection of data will produce a bad output based on that datagarbage in, garbage out. In addition, the Census Act prohibits the Census Bureau from using sampling methods to determine apportionment. In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Census Bureau's proposed uses of statistical sampling to calculate the population for purposes of congressional apportionment following the 2000 decennial census. A similar effort by the agency to use statistical sampling to determine the numbers of undocumented people in each state should be rejected by the courts. These problems are further exacerbated by the agency's decision to end self-response and non-response follow up operations a month earlyfrom October 31 to September 30. The shortened schedule risks the accuracy of the Census Bureau's data products, including the apportionment tabulation, and raises risks that errors will neither be found nor fixed. A federal judge recently issued a temporary restraining order to stop the Census Bureau from winding down or altering 2020 Census field operations until a September 17 hearing. Furthermore, the administration's refusal to include statutory deadline extensions in their negotiations with congressional leaders on coronavirus relief legislation, raise questions about their commitment to addressing these concerns. To address some of these concerns, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions: In implementing Executive Order 13880, can the Census Bureau collect administrative record data uniformly and universally across the country? If so, how? What are the models and methodologies that the Census Bureau is currently developing and studying to tabulate apportionment? Does the agency have enough time to study, test, and implement these apportionment models and methodologies prior to the December 31, 2020 deadline? How will these models and methodologies comply with the Census Act's prohibition on the use of statistical sampling for apportionment purposes? An agency document on 2020 Census operations and data processing notes that A compressed review period creates risk for serious errors not being discovered in the data thereby significantly decreasing data quality. The document also notes that serious errors discovered in the data may not be fixed due to lack of time to research and understand the root cause or to re-run and re-review one or multiple state files. How will the Census Bureau ensure that its apportionment tabulation does not contain significant errors? As the Census Bureau implements the president's July 21, 2020, memorandum, how will you ensure that the apportionment tabulation is developed in a way that is not arbitrary when the agency uses administrative data collected through agreements with other federal, state, and local agencies that is not uniformly shared and may contain errors and inaccuracies? To what degree of confidence can the Census Bureau assure the public that its apportionment tabulation is not arbitrary, does not contain significant errs, and is a fair and representative distribution of congressional seats? What is the basis for the agency's confidence, considering many of the quality assurance processes that will be side-stepped or completed hastily under the condensed timeframe? These questions raise serious concerns about one of the most fundamental constitutional activities: the apportionment of congressional representation. With the end of the 2020 Census and the apportionment deadline fast approaching, we request your written response by September 24, 2020. Thank you for your attention to our request. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-need-for-covid-relief-bill,Statement On Need For COVID Relief Bill,2020-09-08,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.08.20 Statement On Need For COVID Relief Bill . . . . Senate Floor We are in the middle of a public health crisis, and the American people are hurting. Nearly 190,000 people have died. Millions have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. People are being evicted from their homes and struggling to feed their families. And the virus is still not under control. The need for another emergency funding bill to address the COVID crisis is clear. Yet four weeks ago, the Trump administration and Senate Republican Leadership walked away from the negotiating table. Democrats offered compromise. Republicans said, my way or the highway and left town. And here we are four weeks later. Across the country, families are sending their children back to school without the necessary resources to ensure they are safe. Still more students are learning from home, often without reliable access to the Internet. Evictions are rising. Families are struggling to find child care. Unemployment remains at unacceptable levels. States are preparing for November's elections without the resources they need to ensure people can safely vote.The Postal Service needs a serious injection of funding to deliver mail in a timely manner. Inaction has consequences. I'm here and ready to negotiate, just as I was four weeks ago. But now Senator McConnell has announced he is preparing a so-called skinny COVID relief bill to put before the Senate. Another take it or leave it. No amendments. No debate. The proposal isn't skinny. It's anemic. While this bill has not been made public, details are beginning to emerge and based on what I have seen it is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the country. In fact, it provides even less relief than the trillion dollar package the Trump administration put forward before the Senate adjourned last month. I do not know where Republicans spent the last month, but while I was back home in Vermont, I became more convinced, not less, that we have dire needs in this country because of the coronavirus pandemic that we must address, and soon. How any senator went back to his or her home state and returned convinced that even less assistance is needed than when we left last month is baffling to me. Adding insult to injury, the bill also provides sweeping liability shields for corporate bad actors who fail to do their part to keep consumers, employees, and patients safe. That tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of this Republican package: big corporations come ahead of struggling American families. Instead of the person who is trying to pay their bills or send their children back to school, who's making out in this bill? The lobbyists for multi-billion dollar insurance companies. They're already making money. They don't have to worry about paying their bills. They don't have to worry about their children going back to school. They don't have to worry about jobs. Yet this bill gives them one more gift. How can we say we support that and then go back home and say we are on the side of the people? If the Majority Leader wants to put this so-called skinny bill before the Chamber for a vote, do it the right way. Set up a real debate on the bill, a debate that the country deserves. Open it up to amendment. No limits. Let the process work. Let members raise issues important to their constituents and then vote on them: funding for state and local governments who are facing the brunt of the COVID response; money for schools so we can safely educate our nation's children; rental assistance and eviction protections to help keep people in their homes; food assistance for hungry families; funding for our elections so we can ensure people can safely vote; big investments in testing and contact tracing. Our economy will only make a comeback when the American people are confident that the virus is no longer a threat. Senator McConnell's skinny bill will not provide that confidence. Put these issues up for a vote and let the American people see where each member of this chamber stands. I know where I would stand. But the Majority Leader will not do that. On many of these issues he knows he would lose. A vote to move to this bill is just for show. It will not provide us an opportunity for a real debate, and it does not solve the problems facing the country. Showvotes do nothing to combat the virus or give the American people the confidence to reopen the economy. Absent a real debate in the Senate, which clearly the other side of the aisle is afraid of, Republicans must come back to the negotiating table. Restart bipartisan, bicameral talks on a comprehensive COVID relief package that can pass both chambers. Senator McConnell says he wants to do this process piecemeal. Pass a little bit now, and a little bit later. But everyone knows the Majority leader plans to adjourn the Senate later this month to go home and campaign. What he really aims to do isstage a show vote on a woefully inadequate bill that he knows can never become law and get out of dodge. There is no real plan for action. No real plan to pass a bill for the American people. This is unacceptable. We only have a few weeks left before the Majority Leader intends to adjourn the Senate. We are running out of time. The American people need our help. Let's do our job. ##### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/este-no-es-el-momento-para-debilitar-al-banco-interamericano-de-desarrollo,Este No Es El Momento Para Debilitar Al Banco Interamericano De Desarrollo,2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.03.20 Este No Es El Momento Para Debilitar Al Banco Interamericano De Desarrollo Patrick Leahy George Shultz Robert Zoellick Carla Hills Septiembre 12-13 los accionistas del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo han programado la eleccin del prximo presidente del Banco. Esta decisin tendr consecuencias de amplio alcance para el Banco y para las millones de personas que el mismo sirve. Nos unimos a esos que creen que hay razones convincentes para que los accionistas tomen la decisin prudente de posponer la eleccin hasta el ao que viene. Cada uno de nuestros pases tiene inters en el enorme papel que desempea el BID para abordar los desafos clave al desarrollo social y econmico de Latinoamrica y el Caribela pobreza y la desigualdad generalizadas, la corrupcin desenfrenada, los sistemas de justicia dbiles, las pandillas violentas y los narcotraficantes, el cambio climtico, y los millones de refugiados, entre otros. Estos problemas abrumadores son agravados por la pandemia del COVID y la crisis econmica resultante, lo cual tendr grandes ramificaciones para la estabilidad social, econmica, ambiental y poltica de la regin por varios aos. Estos problemas slo se podrn resolver si trabajamos juntos, por lo que debemos preocuparnos por quin dirige una institucin que jugar un papel relevante en el futuro de la regin. La administracin Trump ha nominado a Mauricio Claver-Carone para ser el prximo presidente del BID, y varios gobiernos han anunciado su apoyo a la nominacin. Varios otros han expresado su oposicin. Algunos han anunciado que tal vez boicoteen el voto para prevenir alcanzar un qurum. Hay otros candidatos y gobiernos que todava no han expresado su preferencia. Estas opiniones marcadamente divergentes por s solas deberan hacer reflexionar sobre esta decisin. El Sr. Claver-Carone es un funcionario de nombramiento poltico en la Casa Blanca del Presidente Trump cuya nominacin controversial rompera con una tradicin de larga data de que un latinoamericano se desempee como presidente del BID. Varios antiguos jefes de estado han cuestionado la legitimidad de una presidencia Claver-Carone ya que estara contradiccin con un compromiso poltico explcito que data de la fundacin del Banco hace 61 aos, que estableci el BID en Washington con un presidente latinoamericano- un compromiso que ha demostrado su valor en innumerables maneras para la institucin y sus accionistas. Ellos sabiamente han llamado a retrasar el voto para permitir tiempo para continuar considerando y discutiendo las implicaciones de un cambio estructural tan fundamental. Adems, independientemente de quien ocupe la Casa Blanca el ao que viene, hay muchos latinoamericanos- mujeres y hombres- que tienen la experiencia y el temperamento para sobresalir como el prximo presidente del BID y que gozaran del apoyo bipartidista en Washington. Tambin es preocupante que el Sr. Claver-Carone supuestamente ha prometido ocupar el puesto nmero dos en el BID- un puesto que siempre ocupa un ciudadano estadounidense- con un brasileo, despus de que ese gobierno se convirtiera en el primero en respaldar su candidatura. Esta no es la manera en que deben tomarse decisiones tan importantes. Romper con esta tradicin tendra serias ramificaciones para los Estados Unidos ms all de los prximo cinco aos. Elegir al Sr. Claver-Carone para un mandato de cinco aos, apenas unas semanas antes de las elecciones presidenciales estadounidenses desencadenara una crisis institucional inmediata en el BID y pondra en peligro el apoyo de EE. UU. al Banco en el mismo momento en que busca un aumento de capital. Una presidencia de Biden tambin podra desencadenar un esfuerzo para remover a Claver-Carone, lo que causara ms caos y distraccin en el BID y para sus accionistas en un momento cuando debera enfocar toda su atencin a responder a las crisis de la regin. Es importante notar que las personas de las Amricas- desde los pequeos pases del Caribe hasta las grandes economas del sur y el norte- se han unido en el pasado para superar los problemas regionales y ayudarse los unos a los otros a alcanzar su potencial. El BID ha jugado un rol central en el intercambio de experiencias y la catalizacin de la accin cooperativa, as como a travs del financiamiento, recurriendo tanto al sector pblico como al privado. Desde sus orgenes en la Administracin Eisenhower, el BID y sus miembros se han esforzado por la colaboracin en vez de la dominacin, y esta frmula ser especialmente importante en siglo XXI, mientras las Amricas compiten en una economa global. Una presidencia del BID iniciada en medio de una seria controversia limitara al potencial nico del Banco. La necesidad de un liderazgo estable del BID que pueda generar consenso nunca ha sido tan grande. En vez de cambiar la estructura fundamental del BID por medio de un voto sobre su prximo presidente en medio de la crisis del COVID, los accionistas deberan esperar unos meses y comparar las implicaciones de largo plazo de abandonar una tradicin slidamente establecida. Solo despus de esto nos deberamos unir para respaldar a un candidato de la regin con la visin, la credibilidad, el temperamento y las habilidades para trazar un mejor futuro para la gente de Latinoamrica y el Caribe. # # # # # Patrick Leahy es un Senador estadounidense de Vermont George Shultz fue Secretario de Estado de los EE. UU. Robert Zoellick fue presidente del Banco Mundial Carla Hills fue Representante de Comercio de los EE. UU. Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-welch-and-chittenden-county-leaders-announce_faa-awards-for-sound-proofing-and-noise-monitoring-in-burlington,"Leahy, Sanders, Welch And Chittenden County Leaders Announce FAA Awards For Sound Proofing and Noise Monitoring In Burlington",2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.03.20 Leahy, Sanders, Welch And Chittenden County Leaders Announce FAA Awards For Sound Proofing and Noise Monitoring In Burlington THURSDAY (Sept. 3, 2020) The Vermont Congressional Delegation and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced Thursday the Burlington Airport will receive $6.3 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration to address concerns about increased noise at the airport and to invest in new infrastructure at the terminal. The majority of the funds will be used to soundproof the Chamberlin Elementary School in South Burlington. Additional funds will be used to establish three sound monitoring units around Chittenden County and to expand the apron around the airport terminal. They also reported that for these grants, the federal government will pick up one hundred percent of the cost, with no cost share from the local communities. In a joint statement, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) said: We have consistently pressed for the federal funding for noise remediation in communities near the airport to address increased noise levels. We have also supported full federal funding, without the requirement of local matching funds. These initial grants to soundproof the Chamberlin School and establish noise monitoring units are an encouraging first step as we continue to advocate the communities surrounding the airport. We look forward to working with federal, state, and local partners on future noise-proofing projects, including in communities not currently helped by this funding. The success in securing these grant funds are a result of strong, continuous partnerships between the City of Burlington, the City of South Burlington, South Burlington School District, and our Vermont delegation, said Mayor Miro Weinberger. The collaboration among these entities shows the dedication to our local community, specifically Chamberlin School, which is a longstanding project that will bring forward a positive learning environment for years to come. Helen Riehle, Chair of South Burlington City Council said: On behalf of South Burlington I am very pleased with this news. These grants will greatly benefit our community, and many thanks are due to the FAA for their continued support of BTV, as well as our Vermont delegation, said Gene Richards, Director of Aviation. The FAA is making three individual grants to the airport that collectively total $6.3 million. These awards include a $3.49 million grant that will go toward soundproofing the Chamberlin Elementary School. While the funds will support a variety of projects, the majority of funds will be used to make investments in the school's air system to allow the school to keep windows closed, reducing noise. The airport is receiving $338,924 to establish three mobile sound monitoring units. Working with a consultant, the airport will determine what locations are most appropriate for placing the units and what easements might be needed for their installation. The final award will deliver $2.46 million for the construction of a new apron around the terminal, allowing the airport to accommodate larger aircraft. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/this-is-no-time-to-weaken-the-inter-american-development-bank,This Is No Time To Weaken The Inter-American Development Bank,2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.03.20 This is No Time to Weaken the Inter-American Development Bank Patrick Leahy George Shultz Robert Zoellick Carla Hills On September 12-13, the shareholders of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are scheduled to elect the Bank's next president. This decision will have far-reaching consequences for the Bank and the millions of people it serves. We join those who believe there are compelling reasons why the shareholders would be prudent to postpone the election until next year. Each of our countries has a stake in the outsize role the IDB plays in addressing key challenges to social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean widespread poverty and inequality, rampant corruption, weak justice systems, violent gangs and narco-traffickers, climate change, and millions of refugees, to name a few. These daunting problems are compounded by the COVID pandemic and resulting economic crisis, which will have grave ramifications for the social, economic, environmental, and political stability of the region for years to come. They can only be solved if we work together, so we should care about who leads an institution that will play a key role in determining the region's future. The Trump administration has nominated Mauricio Claver-Carone to be the next president of the IDB, and several governments have said they support his nomination. Several have said they are opposed. Some have said they may boycott the vote to prevent a quorum. There are other candidates, and other governments have not yet expressed a preference. These starkly divergent views alone should give pause about this decision. Mr. Claver-Carone is a political appointee in the Trump White House whose controversial nomination would break a longstanding precedent that a Latin American serves as president of the IDB. Several former Latin American heads of state have challenged the legitimacy of a Claver-Carone presidency as it would contradict an explicit political commitment dating to the Bank's founding 61 years ago, which located the IDB in Washington with a Latin American president a commitment that has proven its value in countless ways for the institution and its shareholders. They have wisely called for delaying the vote to allow for further consideration and discussion of the implications of such a fundamental structural change. Moreover, regardless of who occupies the White House next year, there are plenty of Latin Americans women and men who have the experience and temperament to excel as the next IDB president and who would enjoy bipartisan support in Washington. It is also a concern that Mr. Claver-Carone reportedly pledged to fill the number two position at the IDB a position always held by a U.S. citizen with a Brazilian, after that government became the first to endorse his candidacy. This is not the way such important decisions should be made. Breaking this precedent would have serious ramifications for the United States far beyond the next five years. Electing Mr. Claver-Carone to a five-year term only weeks before the U.S. presidential election would trigger an immediate institutional crisis at the IDB and put in jeopardy U.S. support for the Bank at the very time it is seeking a capital increase. A Biden presidency could also trigger an effort to remove Claver-Carone, which would cause further turmoil and distraction for the IDB and its shareholders when the Bank needs to focus all of its attention on responding to the region's crises. It is important to note that the peoples of the Americas from the small states of the Caribbean to the large economies of South and North have joined together in the past to overcome regional problems and help one another achieve their potential. The IDB has played a central role in sharing experiences and catalyzing cooperative action, as well as through financing, drawing on both the public and private sectors. Since its origins in the Eisenhower Administration, the IDB and its members have striven for partnership over dominance, and this formula will be even more important in the 21st Century as the Americas compete in a global economy. An IDB presidency begun amidst serious controversy would limit the Bank's unique potential. The need for steady IDB leadership that can build consensus has never been greater. Rather than changing the foundational structure of the IDB by means of a vote on its next president in the midst of the COVID crisis, the shareholders should wait a few months and weigh the long-term implications of abandoning such a well-established precedent. Then we should unite behind a candidate from the region with the vision, the credibility, the temperament, and the skills to chart a better future for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean. # # # # # Patrick Leahy is a United States Senator from Vermont George Shultz is the former United States Secretary of State Robert Zoellick is the former President of the World Bank Carla Hills is the former United States Trade Representative Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-to-the-trump-administrations-decision-to-sanction-personnel-of-the-international-criminal-court,Reaction To The Trump Administrations Decision To Sanction Personnel Of The International Criminal Court,2020-09-02,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.02.20 Reaction To The Trump Administration's Decision To Sanction Personnel Of The International Criminal Court This announcement is what we have come to expect from a President whose idea of justice is to pardon his friends and override the Pentagon in cases of military justice. The White House blames the ICC for exceeding its mandate. In fact, the ICC has successfully prosecuted some of the world's worst war criminals, and has done so judiciously and professionally. The United States was instrumental in negotiating the treaty that established the ICC. War crimes and crimes against humanity occur in all wars. The ICC only has jurisdiction if a government fails to prosecute violations of the laws of war by its own soldiers. The United States has long stood for justice and accountability especially when it involves egregious crimes. The White House, without producing any evidence, accused the ICC of corruption and misconduct. Sanctioning ICC personnel may provide fodder for campaign speeches, but it will likely have the opposite of the desired effect and further erode U.S. leadership in the pursuit of international justice. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-vermont-tech-announce-a-nearly-8-million-federal-investment-to-establish-vermonts-first-advanced-manufacturing-education-and-development-facility,"Leahy And Vermont Tech Announce A Nearly $8 Million Federal Investment To Establish Vermonts First Advanced Manufacturing, Education And Development Facility",2020-08-31,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.31.20 Leahy And Vermont Tech Announce A Nearly $8 Million Federal Investment To Establish Vermont's First Advanced Manufacturing, Education And Development Facility (MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Vermont Technical College (Vermont Tech) President Patricia Moulton Monday announced a $7.969 million contract awarded to Vermont Tech from the U.S. Army's Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) office as part of its National Imperative for Industrial Skills. The contract, which has an additional $4 million option, will establish the first advanced manufacturing education, research and development facility in Vermont. Leahy said: To retain and increase manufacturing jobs Vermonters need cutting edge training. The VTC advanced manufacturing facility will ensure that more Vermonters have the training and skills to match the latest generation of manufacturing jobs. By expanding and strengthening Vermont Tech's position as a leader in this field, this collaborative public-private partnership will open new career opportunities to Vermonters and contribute to Vermont Tech's bright future. It was important to me that this facility be located on the school's Randolph Center campus, ensuring that Vermont manufacturers around the state will have the ability to partner and benefit from this important skill training. President Moulton said: Vermont Tech is uniquely positioned both geographically in the state and with existing employer partnerships to advance additive manufacturing for our economy. By preparing students to be the next-generation engineers and industrial designers with state-of-the-art equipment and practices, the college is further positioned as the premier college for engineering and manufacturing education in the region. We are profoundly grateful to Senator Leahy and the IBAS for their support of the college and our industry partners. The new center, located in Randolph Center, Vt., will bring together students, faculty, and Vermont manufacturers to educate the next-generation workforce in cutting-edge additive manufacturing engineering and design and support manufacturing innovation. After conversations with Vermont businesses and Vermont Tech, Leahy secured funding for the IBAS program in the Fiscal Year 2020 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill. The grant comes at a time when Vermont and the nation are experiencing a critical shortage of manufacturing capability and workforce, and while the state's postsecondary attainment needs continue to grow. The U.S. Army's IBAS program is designed to strategically invest in the civilian manufacturing design, engineering, and production sector to ensure capability in the event of a national emergency. The center will further tailor Vermont Tech's educational programs to the real-world needs of Vermont manufacturers. Under the leadership of President Moulton, Vermont Tech has worked to respond to the changing skill needs in manufacturing. Using a grant from the Defense Department's Office of Economic Adjustment, Vermont Tech and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development launched the Vermont Manufacturing Collaborative (VT-MC), a partnership of manufacturers dedicated to supporting growth of design, prototyping, and production using additive manufacturing, a set of state-of-the-art techniques that allow products to be built to exacting specifications, in record time. With the funding from IBAS, Vermont Tech will expand its advanced manufacturing engineering labs with critical new equipment and staff. The grant will also allow the further expansion of VT-MC, which will use the new equipment and renovated facilities for prototyping, test-bed development, and small batch manufacturing. Tim Holmes, Vice President for Engineering, GW Plastics said: We are very excited about this collaboration between local businesses and Vermont Tech. It is a tremendous opportunity to participate in the development of a hands-on curriculum focused on additive manufacturing technologies that will become a pipeline for students transitioning into our future workforce. GW Plastics manufactures safety-critical products where lives are dependent upon the highest quality every day. Furthering our knowledge of 3D technology and other innovations is critical to improving our manufacturing excellence. Bob Zider, VMEC Director and CEO, said: VMEC is very pleased to see Vermont Tech receive this important IBAS Prototype ProjectContract as part of the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative. Managed by Vermont Tech, this new opportunity will significantly accelerate achievement of the core Mission of the Vermont Manufacturing Collaborative (VT-MC), to advance technology-enabled manufacturing and associated workforce readiness through collaborative public-private partnerships and opportunities.' VMEC is proud to be a founding partner of VT-MC, and we expect that VT-MC will have a large impact on Vermont's manufacturing sector, on industry workforce readiness, and on our statewide economy. Chris Carrigan, Vice President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, said: The Vermont Manufacturing Collaborative is great news for Vermont and economic development. It will strengthen collaboration between industry and higher education, provide Vermont's $3 billion dollar manufacturing sector with a skilled workforce for the 21st Century, and give Vermont's manufacturers a strategic resource and advantage. With ready access to research and development, state-of-the art technology and equipment, and support services our manufacturers will be able to tap new markets and business opportunities, and, in doing so, help grow Vermont's economy. William Driscoll, Vice President, Associated Industries of Vermont, said: Vermont manufacturing's greatest advantage has long been the quality of our workforce. Additive manufacturing exemplifies how, as manufacturing continues to evolve, innovation and technology continue to open up new opportunities while also demanding new and improving skills. This new facility will be a valuable asset for Vermont's skilled workforce. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-newly-renamed-paul-bruhn-historic-preservation-program-is-awarding-745000-to-the-preservation-trust-of-vermont,"Leahy: Newly Renamed Paul Bruhn Historic Preservation Program Is Awarding $745,000 To The Preservation Trust Of Vermont",2020-08-28,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.28.20 Leahy: Newly Renamed Paul Bruhn Historic Preservation Program Is Awarding $745,000 To The Preservation Trust Of Vermont MONTPELIER, Vt. (FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday announced that the Preservation Trust of Vermont has been awarded a $745,000 award from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program grant, administered by the National Park Service. The grant was one of only eight applications funded nationally as part of the Leahy-created program to invest in historic preservation in rural communities around the country. Leahy renamed the program in honor Vermonter Paul Bruhn, a longtime champion of historic preservation and original founder of the Preservation Trust of Vermont. Leahy said: The adaptation and reuse of Vermont's historic structures is crucial to preserving the identity of our local communities. While this pandemic has forced us to be physically apart, it has made clear how important it is to invest in spaces where people can gather to socialize, exchange ideas and participate in democracy. This award will allow the Preservation Trust to help more Vermont communities activate these spaces, keeping their downtowns and village centers vibrant places. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy created the $7.5 million annual program to support rural communities working to revitalize historic properties in their communities of national, state and local significance in order to restore, protect and foster economic development in rural villages and downtown areas. Leahy has long worked to direct federal resources to historic preservation projects across Vermont. Leahy earlier partnered with the Preservation Trust of Vermont to help aggregate smaller historic preservation projects and direct overall grant funding through the Preservation Trust. The Preservation Trust's award-winning partnership with Leahy has won nationwide recognition, and Leahy used this model to author the new Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program, through which entities like Preservation Trust of Vermont were able to apply for funding. Here is a LINK to the National Park Service's description of the awards. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-to-lead-senators-on-bill-to-restore-national-guard-coronavirus-funding-at-100-percent,Leahy To Lead Senators On Bill To Restore National Guard Coronavirus Funding At 100 Percent,2020-08-27,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.27.20 Leahy To Lead Senators On Bill To Restore National Guard Coronavirus Funding At 100 Percent (THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), announced Thursday that he will introduce a bill with Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to restore full federal funding for the National Guard's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 3, in the midst of a spike in newly reported coronavirus cases, the President signed a Presidential Memorandum terminating the 100 percent federal cost share with the National Guard that had been in effect since March for responding to coronavirus. The cost-share provides federal funding to pay the National Guard to carry out FEMA-approved missions to combat the pandemic. Pursuant to the memorandum, beginning on August 21, most states and territories found the cost share reduced to 75 percent, despite the persisting need for vital Guard operations related to the pandemic, such as operating testing sites, supporting medical professionals, distributing food, and other activities supporting local communities. At that time, Leahy led 33 other Senators in a letter to the President asking him to reverse those changes, which the administration has failed to do. On Thursday, Leahy announced his intention to introduce legislation when the Senate returns to session in September to restore the 100 percent cost share for any National Guard entity responding to the pandemic with a mission validated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which approves missions for federal costshare. Leahy said: Americans are hurting as this public health and economic crisis continues across the nation. The men and women of the National Guard and other first responders are a bright spot as states take action in the absence of effective federal coordination. It is the wrong time to cut back the federal resources that give governors flexibility to use these valuable citizen soldiers and airmen and women in serving their neighbors. Schumer said: It's shameful that President Trump is again politicizing the frontline work of our National Guard. As the Trump administration failed to effectively respond to the pandemic, across the country Guard members answered the call to serve their community in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. Democrats will work just as hard as they do to ensure that all National Guard units receive the funding they need to continue fulfilling this important mission so we can defeat this evil disease. Durbin said: The National Guard has been critical in implementing testing plans and supporting medical professionals during the COVID-19 crisis. As flu season and the COVID-19 pandemic are projected to converge this winter, we need their support more than ever, but without full funding from the federal government, states are at risk of losing the National Guard's help. The federal government must pay the full cost of keeping guardsmen on the ground as states struggle with their own significant revenue loss. Duckworth said: National Guard troops have been serving as frontline workers since the beginning of this pandemic, working to help keep their communities and their nation safe. Trump's decision to slash the federal funding that supports the deployment of these troops is infuriating, yet unsurprising given his repeated efforts to ignore and move on from a deadly pandemic that is still killing nearly 1,000 Americans every day. I'm proud to be partnering with Senator Leahy and my colleagues on this legislation that would fully restore this critical funding. Text of the bill is available HERE. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/this-years-womens-economic-opportunity-conference-cancelled-planning-will-start-for-weoc-2021,This Years Womens Economic Opportunity Conference Cancelled; Planning Will Start For WEOC 2021,2020-08-26,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.26.20 This Year's Women's Economic Opportunity Conference Cancelled; Planning Will Start For WEOC 2021 (WEDNESDAY), Aug. 26, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced the cancellation of what would have been Vermont's 24th Annual Women's Economic Opportunity Conference (WEOC), due to the challenges of the COVID pandemic. It is only the second time in the long history of the conference that it has been cancelled, the first time being after 9/11. Leahy launched the annual conference in 1996. In a letter sent to nearly 3,300 Vermonters, Leahy said: The strength of this conference lies in the personal stories and lessons that are shared and the personal connections that are made, whether in workshops, a keynote address, or simply over lunch. These connections make this conference unique, and when we explored options for WEOC this year, we simply could not overcome the obstacles brought on by COVID concerns. Held at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, the free conference is known for bringing together hundreds of women from across Vermont for a day of professional and personal growth. Recent keynote speeches and workshops have focused on gender equity, racial diversity and the challenges of starting a business in Vermont, while attendees have explored new careers, connected to financial resources and strengthened their social media skills. More information on the conference can be found on Senator Leahy's website at https://www.leahy.senate.gov/issues/about-weoc. Here is the letter Senator Leahy sent today: Dear Friend: Normally at this time of the year, we would be making final plans for Vermont's Annual Women's Economic Opportunity Conference (WEOC), a tradition that's been going strong since 1996. But this is no ordinary year, and I am writing to let you know that after much deliberation, we believe it is best to forego this year's conference and start planning for a great event in 2021. This is a difficult time and this was a difficult decision, only the second time in 25 years that we have needed to cancel WEOC. The other instance came after 9/11. This conference is known for bringing together hundreds of women from across Vermont for a day of professional and personal growth. Marcelle and I always look forward to our conversations with you. We hear your stories about the challenges of running a woman-owned business, or changing careers in midlife. We hear from you about the need for income equality for women, and more racial diversity in hiring practices. The strength of this conference lies in the personal stories and lessons that are shared and the personal connections that are made, whether in workshops, a keynote address, or simply over lunch. These connections make this conference unique, and when we explored options for WEOC this year, we simply could not overcome the obstacles brought on by COVID concerns. Vermonters have made so many sacrifices in the past five months to help keep our communities safe during this outbreak, and I am so proud of the way our state has pulled together when other states have pulled apart. In the Senate, I have worked as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee to address the needs of our state and our nation. We made some real progress early on, and I'm grateful for the hard work done by Governor Scott and the Legislature to allocate the federal CARES Act funding that Vermont received. I was heartened that they included $5 million to support women and minority-owned businesses, but we know that so much more is needed. I hear every day from Vermonters who are struggling, whether to keep their small businesses open or to manage child care when they return to the workplace. Or they struggle to put food on the table. I understand these needs and I will continue to fight for more federal help, not only to states but directly to our small businesses and families who are facing challenges that we have not seen before in our lifetimes. I promise you that. For now, Marcelle and I hope that you and your families stay healthy as you endure the daily challenges we face in overcoming this pandemic. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if I can be of help. And please look for a future email as we start planning for WEOC's return in 2021. Sincerely, PATRICK LEAHY United States Senator #### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-and-mcmorris-rodgers-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-encourage,Welch and McMorris Rodgers Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Encourage the Growth of the ‘Internet of Things’,2020-08-25,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) on Tuesday introduced the Developing and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, which will help identify and eliminate barriers to the quickly developing internet of things' network of appliances and everyday objects. Innovation has long powered the American economy, said Welch. Small businesses, farmers and American families are already benefitting from the internet of things. This bill will help make sure that innovation continues and that our nation remains a leader in connected technology. To win the future and maintain our competitive edge, America must lead a new era of innovation in emerging technologies. IOT and the development of connected devices have the potential to raise our standard of living, create jobs here at home, and empower innovators to improve the world around us. The DIGIT Act will spur IoT innovation and help ensure the demand for wireless spectrum is met to achieve these goals and beat China in the global economy, said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). The DIGIT Act would convene a working group of federal entities that would consult with private sector stakeholders to provide recommendations to Congress. These recommendations would focus on how to plan for, and encourage, the growth of the Internet of Things in the United States. In facilitating this collaboration, the bill would provide input from private sector experts and prevent potential problems, such as regulatory silos. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a proceeding assessing the spectrum needs required to support the Internet of Things. The text of the bill can be found here. Similar legislation was passed by the Senate earlier this year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-appropriations-committee-vice-chairman-patrick-leahy_announces-cancellation-of-uscis-furloughs,Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy Announces Cancellation Of USCIS Furloughs,2020-08-25,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.25.20 Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy Announces Cancellation Of USCIS Furloughs (TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020) After repeatedly pressing the Trump Administration, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Tuesday that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has cancelled its scheduled furlough of more than 13,000 dedicated public servants. The furlough was set to take effect on August 30. Leahy said: It is welcome news that these women and men will be able to continue to assist the thousands of United States Citizens, employers, and students in Vermont and around the country who rely on the work of USCIS and would have been impacted by the loss of services. But the emotional strain placed on these members of our communities who did not know when their next paycheck would come was a completely needless crisis imposed by the Trump Administration. I look forward to continuing to work on a long term solution to ensure the solvency of this vital agency into the future. In May, USCIS projected a shortfall in fiscal year 2020 of $571 million. However, revised estimates projected a surplus of more than $230 million, giving USCIS ample funding to end the fiscal year without furloughing any public servants. Leahy repeatedly pressed the administration to delay its scheduled furlough, securing temporary relief in July when the agency pushed the furlough back to the end of August, and continues to push for increased oversight of the agency to ensure the original mission of the USCIS continues into the future. Information on Leahy's previous efforts to cancel the furlough are below: https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-calls-on-uscis-to-delay-furlough-of-13000-dedicated-public-servants-in-midst-of-pandemic https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-announces-that-uscis-is-postponing-furloughs-of-13000-public-servants-including-1109-in-vermont https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-impending-furloughs-at-the-united-states-citizenship-and-immigration-services https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-calls-on-leader-mcconnell-and-president-trump-to-pass-emergency-funding-for-uscis # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-supported-emergency-bipartisan-legislation-protect-postal-service,Welch-Supported Emergency Bipartisan Legislation to Protect the Postal Service Passes House,2020-08-22,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch on Saturday voted to pass emergency legislation to protect the U.S. Postal Service from political interference ahead of the November election. The bill provides the $25 billion that the bipartisan Postal Service's Board of Governors requested to address budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic and reverses the damaging operational changes instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The Postal Service is at the heart of rural life for many Vermont communities and will be a pillar of our democracy this November, said Welch. When it comes to our democracy, we cannot trust the word of Donald Trump or his handpicked cronies. This legislation will make sure that the Postal Service has the support and the funding it needs to quickly deliver medicines, unemployment checks and ballots all across America. The Delivering for America Act, H.R. 8015, requires that the Postal Service maintain the same operations and level of service that existed at the beginning of the year, prior to the changes carried out by Postmaster General DeJoy. Dejoy, a multimillion dollar contributor to President Donald Trump's campaign, initiated harmful changes such as: Removing efficient mail sorting machines from sorting facilities across the country. Removing post office boxes from communities. Ending the longstanding practice of prioritizing the delivery of election mail. Curtailing overtime and directing employees to leave mail behind at distribution centers. Reassigning 23 senior career postal employees. Welch, a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, will question Postmaster DeJoy on Monday. In May, he voted for the Heroes Act, which includes the $25 billion that the Postal Service needs. In July, he warned of the grave threat to the Postal Service, and the need for further funding at a press conference with representatives from local postal unions. A fact sheet on the legislation is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-leads-bicameral-amicus-brief-in-litigation-against-president-trumps-illegal-asylum-ban,Leahy Leads Bicameral Amicus Brief In Litigation Against President Trumps Illegal Asylum Ban,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.21.20 Leahy Leads Bicameral Amicus Brief In Litigation Against President Trump's Illegal Asylum Ban . . . . Seeking to preserve lower court decision striking down illegal ban (FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is leading a bicameral amicus brief in O.A. v. Trump at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to preserve the D.C. District Court's decision to strike down President Trump's plainly illegal ban on all asylum claims outside of ports of entry. Leahy's previous amicus brief helped the plaintiff asylum seekers convince the lower court to strike down President Trump's illegal ban. Leahy filed this amicus brief at the D.C. Circuit joined by other leading voices on immigration, asylum, and humanitarian issues in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives: Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), as well as Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The brief makes clear that as the D.C. District Court concluded President Trump's executive action contravenes unambiguously clear provisions in statute protecting the rights of migrants to apply for asylum anywhere along U.S. borders. The brief describes how this executive action was an unlawful attempt to override overwhelmingly bipartisan congressional intent reaffirmed repeatedly, over decades by executive fiat, abandoning the United States' historic role as a refuge for those fleeing violence and persecution. Leahy said: As the D.C. District Court rightly ruled, President Trump's asylum ban is illegal on its face, plain and simple. President Trump cannot just undo clear provisions of the law with the stroke of his pen. That's not how our democracy works. Since the enactment of the Refugee Act of 1980 which I proudly voted for as a young senator Congress has repeatedly reaffirmed in statute its understanding that migrants have the right to apply for asylum anywhere along our borders. Preserving the right to seek asylum along our borders is a recognition of America's role indeed, America's identity as a haven for those fleeing the horrors of war, persecution, and gang violence. Our amicus brief is a clear and detailed reminder to President Trump that he cannot and will not erase our legacy and role as the humanitarian leader of the world. The full text of the bicameral amicus brief can be found here. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/the-assault-on-our-postal-service,The Assault On Our Postal Service,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.21.20 The Assault On Our Postal Service (Guest Column By Senator Leahy In The Rutland Herald And Times Argus) I'm hearing it from Vermonters every day, and with increasing urgency. From Bennington, to South Newfane, to South Burlington, to Newport, to Windsor, to West Dover: People from all walks of life are rightly concerned about the threats to the mail service that we used to take for granted the best mail service in the world -- and we should be able to take it for granted. What Vermonters are experiencing is deeply troubling. The urgent medical message to a Vermonter from her cardiologist that was delayed. A late credit card bill arriving right up to the due date. A disabled combat vet who relies on his prescription medicines for his health, and isn't able to get them when he needs them. All over the country today, millions of Americans are having to stay at home to keep each other safe. They know the stakes. They stay home for their grandparents and their neighbors. Amid all this sacrifice, the hardworking men and women of the U.S. Postal Service have been as essential as never before to keep us connected. And Postal Inspectors work diligently to protect Americans from mail fraud. This is doubly so in rural states like ours. Small business owners wearing masks and gloves package up shipments for customers near and far. Seniors, veterans and many others are receiving their medications through the mail. Retirees await the Social Security checks that keep them out of poverty. Timing is crucial for the Vermonters who are raising chickens for eggs, relying on careful delivery by USPS. As the first day of school approaches, parents are ordering school supplies to their front door. And with a national election less than 75 days away, voters are requesting their mail-in ballots in record numbers. Vermonters, whether living in downtown Winooski or in little Island Pond, know that we could not survive without the USPS. Many small businesses would fail, faced with shipping expenses that would chew up their profits. Consumers would see wildly different shipping costs based on their addresses. Older Americans, people with disabilities, and folks who don't drive or live far from a pharmacy would not have access to life-saving medications. And millions of Americans would not be able to participate in our most basic civic responsibility if deprived of their right to vote by mail. Certain politicians who seek to undermine the USPS have long tried to convince us it was little more than a bad business bargain, and these efforts have escalated now that we need the USPS more than ever. But the United States Postal Service is exactly that: a service, just as the Weather Service and the U.S. Army provide essential services. A service so essential that it is directly written into our Constitution. It provides the same services to Americans in public housing and penthouses, apartments in Boston, and houses on dirt roads in Underhill, Vt. They deliver by boat to addresses that can only be reached by water. They deliver over ice roads above the Arctic Circle. They deliver mail on the backs of mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. When politicians destroy the USPS for their financial or political self-interests, Americans in every corner of our country are affected. And rural communities are among the first to suffer. Efforts to privatize the USPS have been going on for years. In 2006, Congress was working on the first bipartisan law to recapitalize USPS and put it on firm financial ground in over 30 years. President Bush insisted that the USPS must fund the retirement healthcare of its employees, 75 years into the future at a cost of $72 billion. No other federal agency or private corporation has been saddled with such an experiment, and none could survive such a crippling blow. Without this expense, USPS would have reported operating profits for years and had the flexibility to make now critical infrastructure investments. Even with pre-fund now suspended, its damage still continues. And during this pandemic the Postal Service faces financial stresses similar to those that other revenue operations are facing. This President has not joined with Congress in recognizing and addressing these stresses. In May, the Postal Board appointed a political fundraiser and businessman, Louis DeJoy, to be the Postmaster General. A brand new title was even added for him: CEO. Mr. DeJoy and his wife own millions of dollars in assets in USPS competitors like UPS. Since taking office, Mr. DeJoy has taken drastic measures, in the name of reducing costs, but has done nothing to improve the services Americans everywhere rely on. Employees have been told that no overtime will be approved, and that packages should sit on the truck when the people who depend on their timely delivery are just down the road. President Trump's new CEO is running the USPS as Trump has run so many of his own businesses: into the ground. If he succeeds in destroying the USPS that so many Americans rely on, he will benefit financially as competitors scoop up the remains. And it should surprise no one that President Trump, so close to another election, is trying to undermine our mail service as another way to make it harder to vote. Polling places across the country have been closed, mostly in minority communities, where people rely on public transportation or their own feet to get to the polls. If folks cannot vote by mail, at a time when it is the safest, most secure, most accessible option, how can we ensure a fair and free election? President Trump wants to ensnare us in a catch-22. He's told us we can't trust voting by mail. Now he's destroying the USPS so he can point to its failure as proof that we can't trust it. If he succeeds in creating chaos on November 3, he will no doubt baselessly call it voter fraud. We must not allow this to happen. The House has called Mr. DeJoy to an emergency oversight hearing, and the Senate is following suit, where he needs to answer critical questions. Hearings are important in seeking accountability from federal officials. But even more urgently, we must fund the USPS amid this pandemic and protect it from privatization. The House-passed bill that would do that has been buried on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's desk for nearly four months. And we must ensure that every voter, no matter who they are or where they live, is able to participate in the election this November. People's lives are at stake. And so is our democracy. # # # # # [Patrick Leahy (D), Vermont's senior U.S. Senator, is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.]",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-vermonts-dairy-business-innovation-center-to-receive-significant-funding-boost,Leahy: Vermonts Dairy Business Innovation Center To Receive Significant Funding Boost,2020-08-20,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.20.20 Leahy: Vermont's Dairy Business Innovation Center To Receive Significant Funding Boost . . . . $6.13 million secured by Leahy will expand the center's work at a critical time (THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020) Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy on Thursday announced a significant funding increase for the Vermont-Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. The Center, operated by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM), was originally selected as one of three regional dairy innovation centers through a competitive process in 2019. As Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy secured a significant increase to the national program's funding level in the fiscal year 2020 Agriculture Appropriations Bill which allowed the allocation for Vermont to increase from $450,000 in 2019, to more than $6.1 million in 2020. Leahy, also a leading member of the Agriculture Committee, helped lead the effort to authorize the new dairy innovation program in the 2018 Farm Bill and later secured initial funding for the program in the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill. 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. Leahy worked to secure an additional $20 million to support the three centers in that bill. In its first year, Vermont's center has begun supporting work in the region 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: The need to improve the resilience, diversity, and adaptability of our dairy sector has been better illustrated this year than ever before. I worked hard to establish the dairy innovation centers in the 2018 Farm Bill and to make sure the program was well-funded because I know that dairies in Vermont and across the region can thrive, so long as we embrace new products and practices, innovative business models, and improve our ability to respond to changing markets. I know that the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, home of the Vermont-Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center will seethat this $6.13 million enables dairy farms of all scales and types across the region to lead the future of dairy. Governor Phil Scott said:Agriculture is critical to Vermont's rural economy and these dollars will keep our eye on the future. A strong dairy sector is essential to growing our economy and especially our rural economy. We are grateful for Senator Leahy's leadership in creating these innovative programs and bringing them to Vermont. This will provide the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets much needed resources to help our dairy industry. Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts said: This investment in Vermont agriculture is important. It will allow our dairy farmers to grow, innovate and look to the future. A healthy vibrant dairy economy is critical to Vermont's future. These dollars will grow the Vermont economy while preserving our working landscape. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-calls-on-uscis-to-delay-furlough-of-13000-dedicated-public-servants-in-midst-of-pandemic,"Leahy Calls On USCIS To Delay Furlough Of 13,000 Dedicated Public Servants In Midst Of Pandemic",2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.18.20 Leahy Calls On USCIS To Delay Furlough Of 13,000 Dedicated Public Servants In Midst Of Pandemic (TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020) -- Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday called on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to further delay the agency's scheduled furlough of 13,000 public servants from August 30 to the end of the fiscal year. Leahy wrote: To put it more plainly, USCIS could pay all of its staff through the end of the fiscal year, avoid furloughs entirely, and still end the fiscal year with a sizeable carryover balance. In May, USCIS projected a shortfall in fiscal year 2020 of $571 million. However, revised estimates project a surplus of more than $230 million, giving USCIS ample funding to end the fiscal year without furloughing any public servants. Leahy has pointed out that needlessly moving forward with the furlough would put thousands of dedicated public servants out of work at a time of record unemployment and in the middle of the pandemic. This would have ripple effects on communities across the country. Thousands of United States Citizens, employers, and students in Vermont and around the country rely on the work of USCIS and would be impacted by loss of services. Leahy's full letter is available here: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/download/uscis081820 # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-welch-and-scott-announce-44-m-in-n-border-grants-to-14-vermont-communities,"Leahy, Sanders, Welch And Scott Announce $4.4 M. In N. Border Grants To 14 Vermont Communities",2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.18.20 Leahy, Sanders, Welch And Scott Announce $4.4 M. In N. Border Grants To 14 Vermont Communities MONTPELIER, VT. (TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Representative Peter Welch (D), Governor Phil Scott (R) and officials from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) announced Tuesday that 14 Vermont organizations will receive more than $4.4 million in federal grants to promote economic development across the Green Mountain State. Funds will help local communities build out fiber optic broadband networks, facilitate new infrastructure development, bolster Vermont's outdoor recreation and forest economies and invest in the state's arts and cultural organizations. Leahy, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said: These federal investments in Vermont will bring concrete benefits to Vermonters' lives. These projects will mean that more Vermonters will have access to broadband internet and to healthy and local food, and our towns and villages will be able to build out infrastructure that improves their vibrancy. In his leading Appropriations Committee role, Leahy has dramatically increased funding over the last three years for the Commission in the annual appropriations bills and increased the Commission's territory to make every Vermont community eligible for grants. Sanders said: The coronavirus pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the many challenges rural Americans face in accessing high-quality, affordable housing, child care, broadband, health care and food. The Northern Border Regional Commission provides needed federal funding to improve Vermont's rural regionsand create good jobs. This program is now more important than ever to support our communities in their efforts to recover from this crisis. Welch said: Communities across our state are suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. These grants will provide a vital boost to communities across our state that need it most. By investing in projects from food security to infrastructure, these grants will have widespread economic and community development benefits for Vermont communities seeking to recover from this pandemic. Scott said: The NBRC funding will be especially important this year, as communities respond to, and work to recover from, the impacts of this once-in-a-century pandemic. I appreciate this critical federal support and look forward to seeing these transformative projects get underway. NBRC Federal Co-Chairman Harold B. Parker said: The NBRC is excited to again partner with the State of Vermont to make a diverse set of awards this year. Projects that span economic recovery, infrastructure, workforce development, connectivity, and that, importantly in these challenging times, maintain a focus on recreation, are all crucial to advancing economic and community development. They announced this list of Vermont grantees: Randolph Area Community Development Corporation $475,000: For infrastructure development including roads, utilities, water/sewer, sidewalks, and lighting. East Calais Community Trust $105,000: To reopen the shuttered East Calais General Store on Route 14 as an essential community resource for locals and travelers alike. Food Connects (Brattleboro) $184,250: For state-wide infrastructure essential to food security and to increase capacity of 80 farms and food producers to reach new markets within and outside of Vermont. Vermont Foodbank (Barre) $250,000: To support the renovation of the Barre facility, which serves Vermont's food insecure population. Catamount Arts (St. Johnsbury) $250,000: For place-based creative programming/events that will leverage unique community assets to respond to economic impacts of COVID-19 in the NEK. Fairbanks Museum (St. Johnsbury) $350,000: To construct Vermont's first demonstration mass timber building and use the project for workforce training and the Science Annex. Town of South Hero $110,000: To install 1,500 feet of village center water main along Route 2 from Hill Rd to Carter Lane. Richford Grocery (NOTCH) $175,000: To complete acquisition of a grocery store for ownership and operation as the State's first non-profit social grocery. Vermont Council on Rural Development $286,000: To build long-term recovery and economic resiliency projects in Vermont communities, share recovery best practices and connect projects with state, federal and public/private COVID-19 recovery assistance. Vermont Housing and Conservation Board $256,907: The Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program will provide 90 working lands businesses with coaching to help them recover from COVID-19 disruptions. Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund $210,000: To increase forest-based economic activity across the State of Vermont. Town of Fletcher $439,443: To build a fiber-to-the-home telecom network to the 34 miles of residences and businesses that do not currently have access to broadband. City of Rutland $350,000: Acquisition of the athletic facility (20.4 acres of the 116-acre former College of St. Joseph campus) for use as a recreational/community facility for Rutland County. Town of Montgomery $507,107: For a new centralized wastewater project serving the Village Center. Town of Highgate $482,053: To create a 6,300 foot extension of water and sewer infrastructure from the entrance of MVU High School along US Route 78 to Airport Road. Created in the 2008 Farm Bill, NBRC is a federal-state partnership with a mission to help alleviate economic distress and encourage private-sector job creation throughout the northern counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Since its inception, the Commission has awarded more than $72 million, which has leveraged more than $249 million to support 287 grants across the four states. In Vermont, including this year's grantees, it has funded 86 projects totaling more than $20 million. # # # # # 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-president-s-attack-postal-service,Statement of Rep. Peter Welch on the President’s Attack on the Postal Service,2020-08-17,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Peter Welch,W000800,welch.house.gov,,,legacy,"President Trump is again trying to cheat and steal the election right in front of our eyes. This time he is using the Postal Service as his tool to attempt to destroy our democracy.The President is leaning on his mega-donor, hand-picked Postmaster General to cripple the Postal Service by removing critical sorting machines, firing expert career professionals and changing policies that have long ensured that the mail is delivered on time. He is doing it all at a time when arecord number of Americans are expected to vote by mail. Make no mistakePresident Trump's attack on the Postal Service is an attack on our democracy. This week the House will return to pass the Delivering For America Act, which I have proudly cosponsored, to force the president and his cronies to maintain the level of service at the United States Postal Service that is needed to protect the lives, livelihoods and our democracy that rely on it. We cannot let the President cripple the Postal Service and make it more difficult and less safe for Americans to vote this November. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/shaheen-leads-appropriations-subcommittee-democrats-call-for-gao-assessment-of-census-count,Shaheen Leads Appropriations Subcommittee Democrats Call for GAO Assessment of Census Count,2020-08-17,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.17.20 Shaheen Leads Appropriations Subcommittee Democrats' Call for GAO Assessment of Census Count (Washington, DC) U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee which is charged with funding the Census Bureau and Census operations, led a letter signed by all the Democrats on the panel calling for the Government Accountability Office to thoroughly assess and compile a report on the completeness and quality of the 2020 Census. Shaheen's letter, signed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), follows an announcement from the Department of Commerce and Census Bureau leadership that field operations would be delayed to protect public health during COVID-19. However, following reports that President Trump wanted to rush the census count for political gain, this delay was cut short by a month with no official explanation. The letter reads in part, We believe that truncating data collection operations during a global pandemic could cause a massive undercount in historically hard-to-count areas, including Native American, rural, and immigrant communities. We therefore request that, as the data collection operations continue, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) assess the completeness and quality of these activities compared to the original 2020 Decennial Census detailed operational plans and 2010 Decennial Census results, including use of administrative records, proxy interviews and statistical imputation for enumeration and item nonresponse to finish the nonresponse followup (NRFU) operation. The letter continues, As members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, we have worked to ensure that the Census Bureau has the resources needed to uphold the agency's mandate to count everyone, once, where they live We are concerned that the decision to rush data collection and processing operations could risk the accuracy of the Constitutionally-mandated count. The letter goes on to list areas where GAO should monitor for inconsistencies and failures in the 2020 count. The letter can be read in its entirety here. ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-guatemalas-constitutional-court,Statement On Guatemalas Constitutional Court,2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.14.20 Statement On Guatemala's Constitutional Court Democracy cannot survive without an independent judiciary. In Guatemala, like many countries, courts are susceptible to political interference and to pressure from criminal organizations. That is how a culture of lawlessness takes root.Corruption, threats, violence, and impunity become a way of life. It is the responsibility of the executive, the legislature, and civil society to protect the independence of the courts, including the process for selecting impartial, qualified magistrates. Today in Guatemala there is a campaign to undermine the Constitutional Court, and to silence those who speak out against corruption. If that campaign succeeds, it will be because those in power chose their own self-interest over the public interest. That should concern every Guatemalan citizen who wants a more just, peaceful, and prosperous country. ### Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sanders-and-welch-welcome-21-m-in-cares-act-investments-to-capitalize-revolving-loan-funds-to-help-small-businesses-across-vermont-in-responding-to-the-pandemic,"Leahy, Sanders And Welch Welcome $2.1 M. In CARES Act Investments To Capitalize Revolving Loan Funds To Help Small Businesses Across Vermont In Responding To The Pandemic",2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.13.20 Leahy, Sanders And Welch Welcome $2.1 M. In CARES Act Investments To Capitalize Revolving Loan Funds To Help Small Businesses Across Vermont In Responding To The Pandemic (THURSDAY, Aug.13, 2020) Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) Friday welcomed the award of $2.1 million in federal CARES Act funds to capitalize and administer Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic across Vermont. The grants are administered by the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA). Leahy said: Businesses in Vermont continue to feel the weight of this pandemic. When we wrote and passed the CARES Act, we included a variety of resources to support small businesses. While these Revolving Loan Fund grants will help Vermont entities support Vermont businesses in this uncertain time, it is still not enough. I urge the President to continue negotiations on a stimulus package and to work with Congress to provide real solutions needed right now in communities across the nation. Sanders said: Every day I hear from Vermonters who are hurting like never before. During these unprecedented health and economic crises, the government must do everything it can to support struggling Vermonters. I'm hopeful these federal funds will help many small businesses across the state get through this difficult time. But we must do much more to support the 155,000 Vermonters working for small businesses who sustain our rural economies. Working families and businesses in every corner of our country desperately need assistance and it's long past time for Congress to start working on their behalf to pass another relief package. Welch said: As Vermont safely and responsibly reopens, treasured local establishments are learning how to survive the coronavirus pandemic and serve their neighbors for years to come. The CARES Act was designed by Congress to provide immediate relief and much needed investment in our communities struggling to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. I am pleased that this money will provide important gap financing to help local businesses weather this unprecedented health crisis, but these grants are not nearly enough. I urge the president and Senate Republicans to stop their months of delay and begin negotiating further relief for the Vermont businesses and families that are hurting. The EDA investments announced Thursday are: Vermont Community Loan Fund Inc., Montpelier, Vt., will receive a $1 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF that will provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties. Springfield Regional Development Corporation, Springfield, Vt., will receive a $550,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in the southern Windsor County Vermont towns of Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Ludlow, Reading, Springfield, Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor. Burlington Electric Department, Burlington, Vt., will receive a $550,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF that will provide loans to coronavirus-impacted businesses in the city of Burlington, Vt The EDA's release is available here. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-joins-bipartisan-push-to-extend-congresss-deadline-for-submitting-final-census-information,Leahy Joins Bipartisan Push To Extend Congresss Deadline For Submitting Final Census Information,2020-08-11,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.11.20 Leahy Joins Bipartisan Push To Extend Congress's Deadline For Submitting Final Census Information . . . . Senators Urge Extension Be Included In Upcoming COVID-19 Relief Package WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020) U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today led a group of 48 bipartisan senators in calling for the extension of the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census. The senators urged House and Senate leaders to include the extension in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. Extending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau has adequate time to complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census. It will also ensure that both the Congress and the states receive accurate data for apportionment and redistricting, the senators wrote in their letter to House and Senate leaders. Citing a request first made by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham to extend the deadlines for apportionment to April 30 and redistricting to July 31, the senators underscored the need to give the Census Bureau adequate time to collect and report an accurate count following delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to Senators Schatz and Murkowski, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). The full text of the letter can be found below and is available here. Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy: As you work on the next legislative package to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we strongly urge you to extend the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census. On April 13, 2020, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they would be adjusting 2020 Census operations. At the same time, they had requested that the Congress extend the statutory deadlines for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021. This would have given the Census Bureau adequate time to compile the data sets in light of the delayed enumeration window. However, the administration has reversed course and shortened the enumeration period from October 31 to September 30, 2020, citing these statutory constraints. Career Census Bureau staff have indicated that they cannot meet the existing statutory deadlines. In May 2020, the census official leading field operations, Tim Olson, stated, We have passed the point where we could even meet the current legislative requirement of December 31. We can't do that anymore. And in July, the associate director of the census, Albert Fontenot, said, We are past the window of being able to get those counts by year's end. Extending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau has adequate time to complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census. It will also ensure that both the Congress and the states receive accurate data for apportionment and redistricting. We thank you for your consideration of our request. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-joins-bipartisan-letter-to-urge-defense-dept-and-va-to-restore-full-education-benefits-for-guard-members-and-reservists,Leahy Joins Bipartisan Letter To Urge Defense Dept. And VA To Restore Full Education Benefits For Guard Members And Reservists,2020-08-10,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.10.20 Leahy Joins Bipartisan Letter To Urge Defense Dept. And VA To Restore Full Education Benefits For Guard Members And Reservists WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020) Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) today announced that the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) will work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to enable members of the Guard and Reserve to concurrently use Federal Tuition Assistance and GI Bill benefits to fund their education, similar to active duty servicemembers. This achieves the goals of Hoeven and Boozman's bill, the Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act, which Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) joined as original cosponsors. In addition, Hoeven last year led a bipartisan group of senators in urging Defense Secretary Mark Esper to address the issue, and the senator has since been actively working with the OSD to reverse the 2014 Department of Defense decision that prohibited this concurrent use for Reserve component servicemembers. Today's announcement will enable Guard and Reserve members to receive the full education benefits to which they are entitled, and OSD expects the change to become effective by the end of the year. The National Guard and Reserve components are a central part of our nation's defense, both at home and abroad, and our efforts were all about ensuring these servicemembers can access the benefits they have earned, Senator Hoeven said. We appreciate the administration for working with us to restore the full education benefits for our Guard and Reserve members, and we look forward to the policy change being fully implemented later this year. I'm pleased the Department of Defense has updated its policy to provide National Guard and Reserve members the access to education benefits they have earned in the manner Congress intended. This is a commonsense solution that will allow all servicemembers the same opportunities to fund their education, Senator Boozman said. I'm glad to see that the Department has found a way to restore parity to the Montgomery GI Bill's application. The educational opportunities provided to men and women in the Guard are both a thank you for their volunteering to serve, and a smart investment in future leaders of our military and of their communities, Senator Leahy said. Creating more ways for our troops to receive an education helps them become better, smarter soldiers and airmen and build better lives for themselves after they serve. It also helps our military leaders recruit the next generation of service-members, Senator Cramer said.I am glad to see the Defense Department following the provision I authored in last year's National Defense Authorization Act which strongly encouraged the Department to take this action. I hope it is swiftly implemented, and I urge the Trump Administration to continue finding ways to improve the lives and well-being of our troops. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-leads-33-other-senators-in-pressing-the-white-house-to-restore-full-funding-for-national-guards-covid-19-response,Leahy Leads 33 Other Senators In Pressing The White House To Restore Full Funding For National Guards COVID-19 Response,2020-08-10,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.10.20 Leahy Leads 33 Other Senators In Pressing The White House To Restore Full Funding For National Guard's COVID-19 Response (MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020) -- Thirty-four U.S. Senators led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) are asking President Trump to restore full funding to states for the National Guard forces responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week the President reduced FEMA reimbursement for National Guard units from 100 percent to 75 percent, with no explanation, and with the unexplained exception of Florida and Texas. Since March, National Guard units in every state and territory have supported response to help Americans, from distributing much-needed food, to running remote testing locations, to standing up alternate medical care facilities. After initial reluctance, the White House authorized using federal dollars to support the mission to provide states flexibility and members of the Guard equal benefits. On Aug. 3, without warning or explanation, the White House changed that, with two exceptions. After a press inquiry, a White House official said the reason was a personal appeal from those governors. Three additional states last Friday received a short-term additional federal match to reach full federal cost share until Oct. 1. In the letter, the senators said: Congress has demonstrated repeatedly that we understand 32 USC 502(f) to include the ability for the National Guard, under command of state and territory governors, to respond with Federal resources to disasters that endanger Americans. This new determination to reduce the cost share comes at the worst possible time, as positive cases continue to rise, and food security and other basic needs increase due to the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic We ask that you re-authorize one hundred percent cost share for all states and territories through at least December 31. The letter shares a similar goal to a call from the National Governors Association Friday: https://www.nga.org/news/press-releases/governors-call-for-equity-in-title-32-cost-share/ The letter from the 34 Democratic senators follows: The Honorable Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We write to request you restore one hundred percent Federal cost share to all states and territories for use of the National Guard under Title 32 of U.S. Code for responding to coronavirus, which was terminated by your August 3 memorandum for all states and territories except Florida and Texas. The National Guard response has been critical within our states to supporting the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Congress has demonstrated repeatedly that we understand 32 USC 502(f) to include the ability for the National Guard, under command of state and territory governors, to respond with Federal resources to disasters that endanger Americans. Most recently, the CARES Act included funding specifically for COVID-19 response for the Army and Air National Guards, as requested by the Department of Defense. You determined to use reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at one hundred percent cost share, and the resulting mission has lessened the negative impacts for Americans. This new determination to reduce the cost share comes at the worst possible time, as positive cases continue to rise, and food security and other basic needs increase due to the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic. Further, by singling out Florida and Texas for a full cost share as other states face challenges of similar magnitude, the decision appears arbitrary and without justification. Exacerbating the arbitrary and capricious decision, the White House on August 7 extended a short term restoration for some states to a one hundred percent cost share through September 30. This inequity among states is irrational. We ask that you re-authorize one hundred percent cost share for all states and territories through at least December 31. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reax-of-senate-appropriations-committee-vice-chairman-patrick-leahy-d-vt-to-president-trumps-coronavirus-executive-orders,REAX Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) To President Trumps Coronavirus Executive Orders,2020-08-08,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.08.20 REAX Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) To President Trump's Coronavirus Executive Orders The President wants to reopen schools, but opposes funding for schools to make them safe. The President thinks the virus will just disappear, but opposes funding for testing and tracing. The President promises that vaccines will be available by November, but opposes funding for vaccine development, distribution, and to make the vaccine affordable to everyone. The President says that the virus is what it is, but he opposes funding for hospitals and other health care providers to support the front line workers who care for victims of the virus. The President says he supports front line workers, but opposes relief for state and local governments that have already had to lay off over one million teachers, police, fire, and other personnel. And the President raiding the FEMA Disaster Response Fund the same week that the National Weather Service projects that the hurricane season will produce 7-11 hurricanes, 3-6 of which will be major events with winds of over 111 MPH, is nothing but short sighted and irresponsible. Instead of making false promises, the President must work with the Congress to provide real solutions for the American people. He has delayed far too long. # # # # # Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z