December
05: U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree - [Branden
Young, a fifth-grader from Randolph, Vt., helped to
light the U.S. Capitol Chrismas tree on Wed. Dec.,
5. Branden is pictured here (from left to right)
with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders
(I-Vt.), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.),
and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Click
here to read more
about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and see
additional photos.]
December
05: U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree - [On
the evening of Wed. Dec. 5, the Capitol Christmas
tree was lit for the first time. Pictured here: Many
Vermonters and other visitors gathered to see the
lighting of the tree. Click
here to read more
about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and see
additional photos.]
December
05: U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree - [On
the evening of Wed. Dec. 5, the Capitol Christmas
tree was lit for the first time. Sen. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.) took this photo of the beautiful Vermont
tree in front of the snowy U.S. Capitol. Pictured
below: Many Vermonters and other visitors gathered
to see the lighting of the tree. Click
here to read more
about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and see
additional photos.]
December
05: U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree - [Vermont’s 55-foot Capitol
Christmas Tree stands proudly in front of the snowy
U.S. Capitol on Wednesday morning. The snow arrived
just in time for the tree to be lit for the first
time on the evening of Dec. 5.
Click
here to read more
about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and see
additional photos.]
November
2007
November
26: U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree Arrival - [Vermont’s 55-foot
Capitol Christmas Tree arrived safely Monday morning
at the U.S. Capitol. The 80 Vermonters who
accompanied the tree on its caravan were welcomed by
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) at the West Front of the
Capitol. Leahy is pictured below with the Vermont
truck drivers who traveled with the tree since it
left Vermont on Nov. 19. Click here to read more
about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.]
November
26: U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree Arrival - [Vermont’s 55-foot
Capitol Christmas Tree arrived safely Monday morning
at the U.S. Capitol. The 80 Vermonters who
accompanied the tree on its caravan were welcomed by
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) at the West Front of the
Capitol.]
November
19:
Plasan USA -
[The Bennington division of Plasan USA will nearly
double its current workforce by adding 100 jobs and
expanding its Bennington manufacturing site in the
next few months, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
who visited the firm’s workers here Nov. 19, 2007.
The Bennington plant will manufacture armor for
urgently needed armored vehicles that are being
rushed to Iraq to protect U.S. troops from roadside
bombs. Pictured: Leahy and Dan Maneely, a Plasan USA
consultant, inspect a piece of Plasan USA's
commercial work -- a fender to a Corvette.]
November
13:
Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy was presented with the Lake Champlain
Chamber of Commerce Treasure of Vermont Award on
Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the annual meeting of the Lake
Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. Ernest
Pomerleau (middle), President of Pomerleau Real
Estate and an active Lake Champlain Chamber of
Commerce and GBIC member, presented the award to
Leahy and his wife, Marcelle.]
November
13:
Presentation of Award - [Sen. Leahy
presented a World War II medal to Wildfred Savard of
Burlington. Mr. Savard is pictured here with his
family and Sen. Leahy. Left to right: Kathy Savard,
Deanna Savard, Sen. Leahy, Karen Hathaway, Wayne
Savard, Wilfred Savard, and Tommy Savard.]
November
7:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [The
Senate Judiciary Committee met on November 6 to
consider and vote on the nomination of Michael
Mukasey to be the next attorney General. By a
vote of 11 to 8, the Committee sent the nomination
to be considered by the full Senate. Leahy is
seen chairing the meeting with Senator Hatch
(R-Utah), Ranking Member Specter (R-Pa.), and
Senator Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Audio
and
video of the meeting are available. You
may read the Senator's
statement from this meeting and other events on
the
Attorney General page.]
November 2:Press Conference- [On November 2, Sen. Patrick Leahy
held a news conference on the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be
the next Attorney General. In his
statement, Leahy said he
will vote no on this nomination. You can also hear
audio of this
statement.]
October 2007
October 17:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, October 17 convened a
hearing on the nomination of former Judge Michael Mukasey to be the
next Attorney General of the United States. For more,
click here.]
October 10:
Field Hearing - [Sen. Patrick Leahy held a Judiciary Committee field hearing
in Newport, Vermont, to focus on the impacts of policies set by the
Department of Homeland Security that have had, are having and will have
severe implications for the social and economic ways of life in border
communities all across our country. For more,
click here.]
September 2007
September 26:
Press Conference - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy joined other Senators and local and state elected
officials Sept. 26 to speak in response to this week's FBI report
documenting a continuing rise in violent crime. Leahy and
others called for the Bush Administration to join efforts to restore
funding to vital local law enforcement programs that are cut by as
much as half in the President's budget plan. The
administration has threatened to veto legislation to restore funding
to critical programs like the Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS) grant program, which helps local police departments put more
officers on the beat. For more,
click here.]
September 18:
Meeting
With Attorney General Nominee Michael Mukasey - [Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.) met Sept. 18 with Attorney General nominee Judge Michael
Mukasey. Mukasey's nomination will first be considered by the
panel Leahy chairs. Leahy met briefly with members of the
press following the mid-day meeting.
Audio and
video of the
meeting are available on Leahy's multimedia
page. For Leahy's remarks,
click here.]
September 5:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), left, greeted Cong. John Lewis (D-Ga.) before
the start of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the 50th
anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and its continuing
importance. Cong. Lewis, 'a giant' in the Civil Rights
Movement, was instrumental in shepherding the reauthorization of the
Voting Rights Act through the House of Representatives last year.
Leahy is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and worked to
pass the legislation through the Senate. Lewis has been a
longtime leader in the protecting civil liberties. For
audio and
video,
visit Leahy's podcast. For
more, click here.]
August 2007
August 29:
Revision Eyewear Opening - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined CEO Jonathan Blanshay at the ribbon
cutting ceremony opening the new headquarters for Revision Eyewear
of Vermont. The new 30,000 square foot facility in Essex will
house the 40-employee business's operations. Revision Eyewear
has shipped over one-half million pieces of protective eyewear for
use by the U.S. military in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and
has assisted Revision in securing military contracts. The
ribbon cutting also featured demonstrations of new eyewear strap
flammability testing and a demonstration of the eyewear's resistance
to ballistics.]
August 27:
Press Conference - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, held a press conference August 27 in his Burlington, Vt.
office to discuss the resignation of Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales. Leahy and the Judiciary Committee have been
investigating the politicization of the Department of Justice in the
wake of the mass firings of U.S. Attorneys. The Committee has
also been investigating the legal justification of the
Administration's warrantless wiretapping program. Gonzales
most recently testified before the Judiciary Committee in July.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for conducting
hearings for the confirmation of Attorneys General. For more,
click here.]
August 20:
Press Conference - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.,), the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, spoke to reporters August 20, 2007, the return date for
subpoenas issued to the White House, Office of the Vice President,
the Department of Justice and the National Security Council for
documents outlining the legal justification of the Administration's
warrantless wiretapping program. The date comes after Leahy
and the Committee granted an extension for the return of the
subpoenas, at the Administration's request. The subpoenas were
originally due on July 18. On August 8, Leahy sent the parties
a letter establishing August 20 as the new date to comply. For
audio and
video
from the event, visit Leahy's podcast
page. For more on the Judiciary Committee's oversight
investigations into the warrantless surveillance program,
click here. (Video and audio
courtesy of C-SPAN.)]
August 14:
Press Conference - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy spoke to members of the Vermont Press Corp on August
14 in his Montpelier, Vt., office. Leahy has urged the White
House to work with Congress as the Senate and House Judiciary
Committees, and others, investigate the mass firings of U.S.
Attorneys, and the politicization of the Department of Justice.
Pictured left to right are Sen. Leahy; Bob Kinzel, reporter, Vermont
Public Radio, Kika Bronger, videographer, New England Cable News;
Anya Huneke, reporter, New England Cable News, and Rob Roper,
chairman of the Vermont Republican Party. For more,
click here.]
July 2007
July 29:
Face the Nation - [Senate
Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) appeared on CBS's
Face the Nation on July 29 to discuss the July 24 hearing
with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Leahy was joined on
the program by Committee Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Penn.).
Both senators discussed concerns with the Attorney General's
testimony on a range of subjects, including the NSA wiretapping
program. Leahy has given the Attorney General until
August 3 to submit any corrections
or clarifications to his sworn testimony. For more from the
July 24 hearing, click here.]
July 24:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [The
Senate Judiciary Committee July 24 convened a hearing concerning
oversight of the Department of Justice. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
the chairman of the Committee, and others asked exhaustive questions
of the Attorney General. The Senate Judiciary Committee has
issued subpoenas to the Department of Justice for documents and
testimony concerning the abrupt firing of several U.S. Attorneys and
the legality of the NSA wiretapping program. The Judiciary
Committee has congressional oversight authority over the Department
of Justice. Visit Leahy's podcast
page for audio and
video of
his opening remarks and questions. For more,
click here.]
July 16:
Chittenden County Transportation Authority Press Conference - [At
a July 16 press conference in Burlington, Vermont, Sen. Patrick
Leahy (D-Vt.) announced the arrival of six new bio-diesel
buses to the Chittenden County Transportation Authority's fleet.
The new low-emission buses are the most environmentally-friendly
public transit buses in Vermont. The new 40-foot buses meet
the 2007 EPA standard platform, which sets environmental standards
for diesel engines, including a 97-percent reduction in particulate
emissions, and a 75-percent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions.
Leahy is joined at the podium by Chris Cole, general manager of CCTA.
Leahy helped secure the funds to purchase the new buses in the most
recent version of the transportation reauthorization bill. For
more, click here.]
July 13:
Meeting With "Vermont Fallen" Families - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), right, and the Vermont Congressional
Delegation, greeted the family of Vermont's Lt. Mark Dooley on July
13 at Arlington National Cemetery. Marion and Peter Dooley,
along with their younger son, also named Peter, were accompanied by
other families of Vermonters killed in the line of duty in Iraq and
Afghanistan, to the National Cemetery, where Lt. Dooley's remains
were interred in a ceremony on July 13. Lt. Dooley was killed
by a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2005. Leahy is pictured
above with Mr. Dooley, left, and his son. Leahy delivered
remarks honoring Lt. Dooley, and the other families of Vermonters
who have lost their lives in Iraq, on the Senate floor on July 12.
Visit Leahy's podcast page for
audio and
video.
For more, click here.]
July 11:
Hometown Heroes Press Conference - [Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
center at podium, spoke at a news conference July 11 to push the
Administration and the Department of Justice to release funds
allocated under the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act.
Leahy authored the legislation in the Senate, which was passed and
signed into law in 2003, to provide benefits for families of fallen
public safety officers who suffer fatal heart attacks or strokes in
the line of duty. Leahy was joined by families of the fallen
and representatives of fire and police organizations, including
Chief Jim Harmes (right of Leahy), President of the International
Association of Fire Chiefs, and Hal Bruno (left of Leahy), a former
ABC News executive and longtime advocate for firefighters and first
responders. For more, click here.]
July 11:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy, standing at left, presided at a hearing of the Senate
Judiciary Committee July 11. Members of the panel, of which
Leahy is the chairman, heard testimony from Sara Taylor, standing at
right, about the Committee's ongoing investigation into the firing
of U.S. Attorneys. Taylor is a former Deputy Assistant to the
President and former Director of Political Affairs at the White
House. It was the sixth in a series of Judiciary Committee
hearings entitled "Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is the
Department of Justice Politicizing the Hiring and Firing of U.S.
Attorneys?" For more, click here.
For audio and video of the hearing, visit Leahy's
multimedia page.]
July 5:
Tour of Microstrain, Inc. - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), right, toured Microstrain Inc., of Williston,
Vt. June 5. Microstrain has developed an airframe fatigue
monitor for U.S. Naval aircraft, and Leahy has helped the Vermont
business secure $3.7 million in Navy contracts for the production
and manufacturing of the system. During the tour, Leahy
received a live demonstration of the new technology from Microstrain
President and CEO Steve Arms. For more,
click here.]
June 2007
June 27:
Press Conference - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy June 27 held a press conference to discuss subpoenas
issued by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Leahy is the
chairman, to the White House, the Vice President's office, the
Department of Justice and the National Security Council concerning
the Administration's controversial
NSA wiretapping program.
The Judiciary panel voted 13-3 on June 21 to give Leahy the
authority to issue the subpoenas. For more,
click here.]
June 26:
"Day Of
Action To Restore Law And Justice - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke before a crowd of hundreds June 26 at a
rally on Capitol Hill to support the restoration of habeas corpus
rights. Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
is the sponsor of the
Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, which would repeal provisions in
the Military Commissions Act, which was signed into law last year,
that permanently eliminated the right of non-citizens detained as
enemy combatants to file a writ of habeas corpus. Leahy's
Judiciary Committee has reported the legislation, and it is awaiting
action on the Senate Floor. For Leahy's remarks from the
rally, click here.]
June 20:
Meeting
with United Nations Secretary General - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) met June 20 with United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Leahy's Washington, D.C. office.
The Secretary-General was elected to his post on October 13, 2006,
and was sworn in on December 14, 2006. Leahy, the chairman of
the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign
Operations, highlighted the importance of the United Nations in
peace keeping missions around the world. For Leahy's comments
following the meeting, click here.]
June 9:
Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), at podium, speaks to Vermont Veterans of
Foreign Wars at the Vermont VFW state convention on June 9, 2007 in
Burlington, Vt. Leahy spoke to VFW members about funding for
care for veterans, the Veterans Administration's facility in White
River Junction, Vt., and about concerns about short and long-term
care for Veterans. Leahy has been outspoken in his concerns
about VA's failure to account for the influx of Iraq and Afghanistan
war veterans into the system. Leahy also spoke to the VFW's
Women Auxiliary at the Convention.]
June 5:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
holds a copy of the Department of Justice's guidebook for the
"Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses" during a hearing June 5
about the hiring and firing policies at the Justice Department.
Leahy and others questioned Justice Department official Bradley
Schlozman and fired U.S. Attorney Todd Graves in the fifth
installment of a series of Judiciary Committee's oversight hearings
entitled "Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is The Department
Of Justice Politicizing The Hiring And Firing Of U.S. Attorneys?"
For audio and
video of
Leahy's opening statement,
click here. For more on U.S.
Attorneys, click here.]
May 2007
May 24:
Meeting With Microstrain, Inc. of Williston, Vermont - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was presented May 24 with a framed letter from
the more than two dozen high-technology employees of Microstrain
Inc., of Williston, Vt. The company develops and manufactures
advanced strain gauges, which facilitate the measure of stress loads
on everything from infrastructure to replacement artificial knee
joints. Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, has supported the company's efforts to secure contacts
for work on an aircraft fatigue measurement program for the U.S.
Navy. Leahy is pictured with Steve Arms, left, President of
Microstrain, and Hugh McGillicuddy.]
May 10:
Second Annual Taste Of Vermont Reception - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and his wife Marcelle welcomed more than 50
Vermont businesses to Capitol Hill for the second annual Taste of
Vermont reception held May 10. Representatives from Vermont's
premier hotels, resorts and attractions, and well as food and
beverage makers, were on hand to meet with buyers, writers, meeting
planners and others in an effort to bring more business to Vermont.
The event was attended by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former
Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), both top left, and others. The
event was sponsored by the
Vermont
Convention Bureau, the
Lake Champlain
Regional Chamber of Commerce and the
Greater
Burlington Industrial Corporation, in conjunction with Leahy's
office.]
May 10:
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations
Subcommittee Hearing - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) speaks with Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice before the start of a May 10 hearing to examine the Fiscal Year
2008 budget request for foreign operations and the State Department.
Leahy is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for
State, Foreign Operations and related programs. Leahy
questioned Rice about programs under the jurisdiction of the United
States Agency for International Development, the
Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative, and other matters. For more audio and video
from the hearing, visit Leahy's podcast.
For more, click here.]
May 8:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
speaks with Allen Gilbert of Worcester, Vt. before the start of a
May 8 hearing about the drawbacks of the REAL ID Act. Gilbert
is the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Vermont, and a prominent advocate of civil liberties. A
leading voice in Vermont about the REAL ID's impact on Vermonter and
Vermonter's way of life, Gilbert offered strong testimony to Leahy's
panel about the impact of the law on small, rural states like
Vermont. Testimony and Leahy's questioning of the panel can be
heard on Leahy's podcast. For
more, click here.]
May 7:
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary's Award for
Excellence in Nursing - [Sen. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.) greeted Bob and Aura Lee Nicodemus May 7 on
Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Aura Lee is a
member of the VA Medical Center in White River
Junction, Vermont, and was in Washington to receive
the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing from
the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nicodemus
was recognized for her effective role in improving
and delivering patient care to veterans and their
families.]
May
4:
North-Link Groundbreaking -
[Sen. Patrick Leahy was greeted May 4 by Connie
Stanley-Little of the Economic Development
Council of Northern Vermont as Leahy and others
participated in groundbreaking ceremony in St.
Johnsbury, Vermont, for the
North-Link fiber optic system North-Link will
serve as the backbone for broadband access
throughout the Northeast Kingdom where major areas
have been sidelined from high speed internet
access. The $10-million fiber optic network is
designed by Northern Enterprises, in cooperation
with the Economic Development Council of Northern
Vermont. Leahy secured $500,000 for the project
through the Vermont Broadband Council.]
April 2007
April
26:
Armed Services Committee Hearing -
[Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) testified before the
Senate Armed Services Committee April 26 about the
restoration of habeas corpus rights. Leahy is
the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and
as introduced the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of
2007. The bipartisan bill would restore the
fundamental protections of habeas corpus by
repealing provisions of the Military Commissions Act
of 2006, which became law in the last Congress.
For audio and video of the testimony, visit Leahy's
podcast. For
more, click here.]
April
24:
Judiciary Committee Hearing -
[Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), right, greets members
of the panel testifying before the Senate Judiciary
Committee April 24. Leahy, the chairman of the
panel, convened a hearing to discuss changes made in
the 2006 Defense Authorization Bill, making it
easier for the President to assume control of the
National Guard and invoke martial law.
Testifying at the hearing were (l-r) Sheriff Ted G.
Kamatchus, President, National Sheriffs'
Association; Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, USAF,
Adjutant General, State of Washington; Lt. Gen. H.
Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard Bureau; and Gov.
Michael F. Easley of North Carolina. Leahy is
also co-chair of the Senate's National Guard Caucus.
Visit Leahy's podcast
for audio and video from the hearing. For
more, click here.]
April
19:
Judiciary Committee Hearing -
[The Senate Judiciary Committee April 19 held a
hearing concerning oversight of the Department of
Justice. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
testified at the hearing about the abrupt dismissal
of eight U.S. Attorneys. Sen. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.), the chairman of the powerful Senate panel,
is seen swearing in the Attorney General. For
audio and video of Leahy's opening remarks and
questioning of Gonzales,
click here. For more on the dismissal of
U.S. Attorneys, and for Leahy's statement from the
April 19 hearing,
click
here.]
April
19:
Judiciary Committee Hearing
-
[[The Senate
Judiciary Committee April 19 held a hearing
concerning oversight of the Department of Justice.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified at the
hearing about the abrupt dismissal of eight U.S.
Attorneys. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the
chairman of the powerful Senate panel, is seen
delivering his opening remarks. For audio and video
of Leahy's opening remarks and questioning of
Gonzales, click here.
For more on the dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, and for
Leahy's statement from the April 19 hearing,
click
here.]
April
19:
Judiciary Committee Hearing
-
[[The Senate
Judiciary Committee April 19 held a hearing
concerning oversight of the Department of Justice.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified at the
hearing about the abrupt dismissal of eight U.S.
Attorneys. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the
chairman of the powerful Senate panel, is seen
speaking with Gonzales and other panel members
before the start of the hearing. For audio and
video of Leahy's opening remarks and questioning of
Gonzales, click here.
For more on the dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, and for
Leahy's statement from the April 19 hearing,
click
here.]
April
18:
Press Conference -
[Sen. Patrick Leahy speaks at an April 18 press
conference to introduce long-awaited bipartisan,
bicameral patent reform legislation. Leahy is
joined by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), right, in
introducing the legislation in the Senate.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the
House by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), left and Rep.
Howard Berman (D-Calif.), not pictured. Rep.
Rick Boucher (D-Va.), second from left, is also a
co-sponsor of the legislation. Leahy is the
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which
will first consider the legislation. For more,
click here.]
April
18:
Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Hearing -
[Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired a hearing April
18 of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on
State and Foreign Operations to discuss proposed
budget estimates for FY08 for maternal and child
health, and family planning and reproductive health.
Leahy welcomed four distinguished panelists (l-r):
Laurie Garret, senior fellow for global health at
the Council on Foreign Relations; Kent Hill,
administrator of the U.S. Agency for International
Development; Helene Gayle, president of the
Cooperative for Assistance Relief Everywhere; and
Nils Daulaire of Vermont, president of the Global
Health Council. For more,
click here.]
April
11:
Online Chat -
[Vermont's senior senator Patrick Leahy chats April
11 with students from the Neshobe School in Brandon,
Vermont as part of his online chat program.
Leahy, commonly known as the 'cyber senator,' has
been holding online chats with students from Vermont
since 1996. Leahy said the chats are an easy
way for him to have a 'virtual visit' with Vermont
students while he is in Washington. For more
on Leahy's online chat program, or to read Leahy's
chat with the Neshobe School,
click here.]
March 2007
March 29:
Judiciary Committee Hearing- [Senate
Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, standing
at the right, swears in Kyle Sampson, left, at a
March 29 Committee hearing to explore the firing of
eight U.S. Attorneys. Sampson is the former
chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Leahy and other senators have urged the cooperation
of the Justice Department in the Committee's
investigation into the hiring and firing of U.S.
Attorneys. Attorney General Gonzales is
expected to testify before the Committee in April.
For more on the U.S. Attorneys investigation,
click
here.]
March 27:
Annual National
Guard Caucus Breakfast- [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., co-chair of the Senate
National Guard Caucus, spoke March 27 at the Annual National
Guard Breakfast held on Capitol Hill. eahy is pictured
above with Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, who is the Chief of the
National Guard Bureau. The breakfast was also attended by
Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie, the Adjutant General of the Vermont
National Guard and former Assistant Adj. Gen. of the Vermont
National Guard Maj. Gen. William Etter. For more,
click here.]
March 27:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [PICTURED: Sen. Patrick Leahy,
right, convened a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee , of
which Leahy is the chairman, on March 27 to examine operations
at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Testifying
at the hearing was FBI Director Robert Mueller. For more,
click here.]
March 20:
Press Conference - [PICTURED:
Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), center, speaks March 20 at a press
conference about the firing of 8 U.S. Attorneys by the
Department of Justice. Leahy, holding an example of a
redacted document provided by the Justice Department late in the
day on March 19, has worked with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY),
left, and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), right, to pass
legislation to limit the ability of the Justice Department to
appoint temporary U.S. Attorneys and circumvent the Senate
confirmation process. The three senators are members of
the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Leahy is the Chairman.
The Committee has authorized subpoenas from officials at the
Justice Department, and will vote March 22 on further subpoenas
of key Administration officials. For more,
click here.]
March 18: This Week - [PICTURED:
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
left, appeared March 18 on ABC's This Week to discuss the
Department of Justice's decision to fire several U.S. Attorneys.
Leahy was joined by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the
Judiciary Committee. Leahy has pledged hearings on the
issue, and the Senate panel will vote on whether to authorize
subpoenas for key Administration officials to testify before the
Committee. For more, click
here. (Photo by Lauren Victoria Burke, for ABC News.)]
March 14:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [PICTURED:
Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) held a hearing March 14 about the
importance of strengthening laws under the Freedom of
Information Act. The hearing, held during the third annual
Sunshine Week, followed Leahy's introduction of the bipartisan
OPEN Government Act. Testifying at the March 14 hearing
was Sabina Haskell, above with Leahy, is the editor of the Brattleboro Reformer, a newspaper with a circulation of
10,000 based in southern Vermont. For more on Leahy's
efforts to bring transparency to offices in the federal
government, click here.]
March 13:
Press Conference- [PICTURED:
Judiciary Committee Chairman
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), right, was joined by Sen. John
Cornyn (R-Texas) to commemorate Sunshine Week March 13 as the
senators re-introduced their OPEN Government legislation.
Leahy and Cornyn have sponsored legislation in previous
Congresses to promote openness in government in an effort to
make government work better for the American people. The
Senators also answered questions from members of the press about
the developments concerning the firing of several
U.S. attorneys at the March 13
press conference. For more on Sunshine Week,
click here.]
March 12:
Agriculture Field Hearing - [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), center,
chaired a field hearing of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and
Forestry Committee March 12 at the State House in Montpelier,
Vermont. Leahy is a former chairman and the second highest
ranking Democrat of the panel. The hearing,
which explored "2007 Farm Bill Opportunities for Vermont and the
Northeast," was also attended by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and
Cong. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Vermonters are invited to
submit testimony for this hearing. For more information,
click
here.]
March 9:
Press Conference - [PICTURED:
Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), right, held a press
conference March 9 with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), the
Committee's ranking member, to discuss the findings in a report
issued by the Inspector General about the use of National
Security Letters. Leahy pledged extensive oversight
hearings by the Judiciary Committee to investigate the findings
in the report. For more on Leahy's reaction,
click here.]
March 2:
National Guard Press Conference- [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
joined by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.), held a press conference
March 2 to discuss the findings of a report issued March 1 by
the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves. Leahy
is a co-chair of the Senate's National Guard Caucus, and has
introduced legislation to empower the National Guard within the
Pentagon. Leahy supported the commission's findings, but
called their recommendations "think soup." For more,
click here.]
February 2007
February 28:
Gold Mouse Award Presentation - [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was presented February 28 with a 2006
Gold Mouse Award by Beverly Bell, executive director of the
Congressional Management Foundation, a non-profit nonpartisan
organization which recently conducted an independent analysis of
the more than 600 websites on Capitol Hill. Leahy was
recognized with a record third consecutive Gold Mouse, the
highest award given by CMF to congressional offices.
Leahy, often called the 'cyber senator,' has in recent years
introduced blogging,
podcasting and streaming video
to his website. For more,
click here.]
February 15:
Floor Statement On Iraq - [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke
February 15 on the Senate Floor about the Administration's
proposal for a troop surge in Iraq. Leahy is the Chairman
of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on State and
Foreign Operations, and is an original co-sponsor of legislation
in the Senate calling for a phased redeployment of the troops in
Iraq. Leahy has been and open and outspoken critic of the
war, and opposed the authorization for the the use of force.
Visit Leahy's podcast webpage to
listen to audio or to view Leahy's floor speech. For more
information, click here.]
February 13:
Meeting With Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -
[PICTURED: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
the chairman of the Senate's Appropriations Subcommittee on
State and Foreign Operations, met February 13 with Liberian
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Washington. Leahy, also
the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee this year
established a new Judiciary subcommittee on human rights.
Leahy and President Sirleaf discussed the situation in Liberia
and Liberia's stake in the annual appropriations process.]
February 13:
Samuel Dash Conference
On Human Rights - [PICTURED: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke February 13 at
the second annual Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights, held
at Georgetown University Law Center. Leahy this year
established the Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Human Rights
and the Law, and the panel convened it's first hearing February
5 to discuss genocide. Leahy has been a long-time advocate
in protecting human rights and, in 1997 authored the
Leahy
Law on Human Rights. Leahy is joined above by T.
Alexander Aleinikoff, dead of Georgetown Law School. For
more, click here.]
February 8:
Vermont Products On Capitol Hill - [PICTURED:
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the
Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Feb. 8 announced a
new addition to the Committee's hearing room on Capitol Hill -
two of Vermont's great tasting products, Green Mountain Coffee
and Vermont Pure Natural Spring Water. The beverages made
their debut during Leahy's first tenure as Chairman of one of
the Senate's busiest committee's, and, as Leahy promised when he
regained the gavel, two of Vermont's finest products are back in
the spotlight, seen here in the foreground. For more,
click here.]
February 5:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [PICTURED:
Actor and advocate Don Cheadle
testified February 5 before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. Cheadle, who
starred in the film Hotel Rwanda spoke about the ongoing
genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Sen. Patrick
Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
announced the establishment of the new subcommittee to focus on
human rights issues in December. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
is the chairman of the subcommittee. For more,
click here.]
February 1:
Press Conference - [PICTURED:
Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), left, held a news conference
Feb. 1 to discuss the rendition of Canadian citizen Maher Arar.
Leahy and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the Committee's ranking
member, were briefed by officials from the Department of Justice
following a request from the Judiciary Committee for more
information about the rendition of Mr. Arar. Arar was
detained by U.S. Officials in 2002 on suspicion of ties to
terrorism where Mr. Arar says he was held and tortured for 10
months. For more, click here.]
January 2007
January 30:
Press Conference - [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
left, speaks January 30 at a press conference to discuss the
introduction of the National Guard Empowerment Act of 2007.
Leahy co-chairs the Senate National Guard Caucus with Sen. Kit
Bond (R-Mo.), and has been active in improving the ability of
the National Guard to respond to domestic emergencies and
fulfill its responsibilities overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Leahy was joined at the press conference by (left to right),
Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Neb.) and Rep. Gene
Taylor, (D-Miss.) For more,
click here.]
January 18:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [PICTURED:
Judiciary Committee Chairman
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), center, consults with Committee
Ranking Member Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), left, and Sen. Ted
Kennedy (D-Mass.) before a January 18 hearing about oversight of
the Justice Department. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
appeared before the Committee to answer questions about privacy,
the NSA domestic surveillance
program, and other issues under the jurisdiction of the
Justice Department. For more, click here.]
January 10:
Judiciary Committee Hearing - [PICTURED:
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
convened the first Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing of the
110th Congress Jan. 10. The hearing, which examined the
balance of privacy and security in government data mining
programs, featured a bipartisan panel of experts. Leahy,
who will serve as the Committee's chairman in the new Congress,
was joined at the hearing by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), left,
who will serve as the panel's ranking member. For more,
click here.]
