Senator Patrick J. Leahy Receives
The Consumer Federation Of America's
Philip Hart Public Service Award
June 15, 2006
Since coming
to the U.S. Senate in 1975, Patrick Leahy has consistently
championed the public interest on a wide range of issues. As
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee from 1987 to 1995,
Sen. Leahy was and continues to be a leader on food safety and
nutrition issues, working vigorously to defend key low income
food assistance programs and to improve the nutritional value of
meals offered through these programs. Sen. Leahy has since used
his position as both Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate
Judiciary Committee to advance the legal and civil rights of all
Americans. He led efforts in the Senate to make anti-consumer
bankruptcy legislation more balanced. He has consistently fought
efforts to unjustifiably restrict consumers’ access to court,
most recently focusing attention on the role of the insurance
industry’s federal antitrust exemption in rising medical
malpractice premiums. In the wake of Enron’s collapse, Sen.
Leahy championed legislation to strengthen whistleblower
protections and stiffen penalties for white collar crime,
legislation that was ultimately included in the landmark
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Leahy has also been a staunch advocate for
improved privacy protections, particularly with regard to
Internet and medical records privacy. For his impassioned
defense of society’s most vulnerable citizens and of all
Americans’ civil liberties, CFA is honored to present Sen. Leahy
with its Philip Hart Public Service Award.
Consumer
Federation of America (CFA) is a non-profit association of
almost 300 pro-consumer groups, with a combined membership of 50
million, which was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer
interest through advocacy and education.
Consumer Federation of America
Awards Dinner
Presentation of Philip Hart Award to Senator Patrick Leahy
(D-VT)
Introduction by
Jim Guest
President and Chief Executive Officer
Consumers Union, Publisher of Consumer Reports
And
ConsumerReports.org
Thursday Night, June 15, 2006
I have the wonderful distinction
of having known Pat Leahy before he was Senator Leahy. In the
early 1970s, he was State’s Attorney in Vermont’s largest
county, and I was a consumer advocate in Vermont state
government. Pat had a well-earned reputation as a tough,
hard-working, fair-minded, highly effective prosecutor. And then
he ran for United States Senator in 1974 against great odds and
became one of the youngest Senators ever. As one of your
original constituents from Vermont, Senator, and as an advocate
today on national consumer issues, I couldn’t be more proud of
what you’ve achieved for Vermont and for the nation in your
nearly 32 years of service in the Senate.
Senator Leahy has a long record as
an outspoken champion for protecting consumers’ rights,
especially when it comes to privacy ‑‑ whether financial,
personal, medical, or online. Many of us, in fact, are
currently working with him on legislation to increase consumer
protections in the case of identity theft and data-security
breaches.
Senator Leahy is a staunch
defender of the First Amendment. He’s fought repeatedly to
shield whistleblowers from the crushing consequences that can
result from coming forward in the name of the public good.
Senator Leahy is the father and
persistent watchdog of the 1990 organic food law that created
the national program that supports a more sustainable way of
living. When the program came under assault by special interests
who want the benefit of the lucrative “organic” label without
the burden of producing truly organic foods, Senator Leahy
fought back successfully.
Senator Leahy is not afraid to
take the vote less traveled. He was one of the few senators to
vote against the 1996 Telecom Act that a decade later has
spawned skyrocketing cable rates, massive consolidation in the
telephone and cable industries, and now the demise of long
distance – the best competitors to local phone monopolies. He’s
been a long-time anti-trust watchdog, blowing the whistle on
media mergers that he thought would hurt consumers’ pocketbooks.
The list goes on. But I want to
say something about Pat Leahy the person. He’s a strong family
man who cares deeply about his wife and children, and loves to
escape to his homestead in rural Vermont and spend time there
with family and friends. He’s always had a special interest in
children, his own and youngsters everywhere, recognizing the
importance of fostering civic engagement in the next generation
of Americans.
I was talking with my 28-year-old
daughter last night, Senator, and told her I’d be introducing
you. She related a vivid memory of when she was an eight-year
old schoolgirl in Burlington, Vermont, who approached you after
a public function and interviewed you for a grade school project
on the environment. You took the time to listen, you gave
thoughtful responses, and here’s how she described the lasting
impression you made on this young schoolgirl 20 years ago:
“Senator Leahy was both feisty and laid back. He clearly had
strong convictions, and he knew what he was talking about. He
actually had something to say, and he actually meant what he
said. I thought he was lovable.”
Feisty, laid back, strong
convictions, knows what he’s talking about, lovable. All of
these apply today. And what also applies is that Pat Leahy is
that rare 21st Century phenomenon -- a Renaissance
man.
To give just one example, he’s a
passionate and accomplished photographer. A Vermont friend who
saw a recent exhibit of his photos was struck not only by their
quality but by their range. There were photos of Ronald Reagan,
Hugh Scott, the Pope, Tibet under Chinese occupation, and many
more. It strikes me that a lot of the skills that make Senator
Leahy a talented photographer are the same ones that make him an
effective lawmaker -- an eye for detail, the ability to look at
a situation from many angles, the aptitude for grasping depth
and breadth, and the desire to capture as many perspectives as
possible.
Senator Pat Leahy -- homegrown
Vermonter, consumer champion, feisty legislator, Renaissance
man, United States Senator extraordinaire -- it’s my great honor
to present you with the Consumer Federation of America’s Philip
Hart Public Service Award for your unswerving dedication and
profound achievements on behalf of the American consumer.
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