Vermont Products Make A Comeback In The U.S. Senate

Judiciary Chairman Leahy Brings Back Vermont Pure Natural Spring Water
And Green Mountain Coffee Roasters  

WASHINGTON (Thursday, Feb. 8) – Vermonters have one more reason to smile about a return of Democratic control to the United States Senate: Great-tasting and all-natural Vermont coffee and water are back in the spotlight as the beverages of choice for one of the Senate’s busiest committees.

The return of Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, means vigorous oversight of Americans’ civil liberties and better accountability from the Bush Administration on its policies, said Tracy Schmaler, Democratic communications director for the panel.  She said it also means a return to good taste for Senators from around the country, who are now able to enjoy two of the finest, all-natural, great-tasting beverages the Green Mountain State has to offer.  

The Committee’s Executive Business Meeting Thursday marked the return of Vermont Pure Natural Spring Water to the Committee’s hearing room.  Chairman Leahy began offering Green Mountain Coffee Roasters coffee in January.  The beverages are served to the 19 members of the Judiciary Committee when they meet for official business, including the weekly executive business meetings – their voting sessions -- and all of the panel’s hearings.     

Leahy first served as chairman of the panel from 2001 to 2003 when former Senator James Jeffords switched his political affiliation and shifted control of the Senate.  During his first tenure as chairman, Leahy also provided Vermont Pure Natural Spring Water and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters coffee as the beverages offered by the Committee.  When control shifted back to Republicans, the subsequent chairmen of the committee switched products.

Leahy is already hailing the change as a constructive one for getting things done in the 110^th Congress, noting that the attendance at the Committee’s business meetings today and in the past few weeks has been much higher than in the previous years.    

Vermont Pure Natural Spring Water, bottled in Randolph, Vt., is now the eighth-largest water company in the United States. 

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, based in Waterbury, Vt.,  was recently ranked No. 1 on the Business Ethics list of “100 Best Corporate Citizens,” and has been recognized repeatedly by Forbes, Fortune Small Business, and the Society of Human Resource Management as “an innovative, high-growth, socially responsible company.” 

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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.