November 18:
Senate Judiciary Committee On Department of Justice Oversight - [On
November 18, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the
Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing on "Department of Justice
Oversight." Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired the hearing
and asked Holder several questions, including questions on trying
the 9/11 terrorists in New York City, and about the shooting at Ft.
Hood, Texas. Above, (right to left) Senator Jeff Sessions
(R-Ala.), ranking member of the Committee, speaks with the Attorney
General and Leahy before the start of the hearing. Click
here for
Leahy's opening statement.]
November 16:
Leahy Announces $3.2 Million In New Contracts For Williston Firms- [On
November 17, 2009, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced new
Department of Defense contracts for two firms in Williston.
Leahy is shown above at MicroStrain's high-tech lab, with President
Steve Arms, announcing a new $2.4 million contract for the company's
work on wireless sensors that monitor the Navy's helicopters.
In another visit, Leahy met with leaders and employees of Triosyn,
where he announced a new $800,000 contract to develop an
antimicrobial wound dressing, which will help reduce deadly
infections. To read more about these contracts, click here.]
November 4:
Leahy
Holds Hearing On Nomination For U.S. District Judge in Vermont- [On November 4, the
Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the nomination of
Christina Reiss for U.S. District Court in Vermont. Pictured here in
the Committee hearing room are Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.); Reiss, currently a state judge in Vermont; and Vermont U.S.
District Court Judge William K. Sessions III. If confirmed by the
Senate, Reiss would be the first woman to serve as a federal judge
in Vermont. To read Leahy's statement or to watch video of the
hearing, click click
here.
(photo credit: U.S. Senate Photographer)]
October
2009
October 28:
Leahy
Holds Hearing On Health Care Fraud- [On October
27, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) held a Senate Judiciary Committee
hearing to examine federal efforts to combat health care fraud.
Leahy is shown here speaking with the two witnesses who testified at
the hearing. On the left is Assistant Attorney General Tony
West, who leads the Civil Division at the Department of Justice and
on the right is Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Bill
Corr. To read about the hearing click
here.]
October 23:
Leahy
Praises Passage Of Hate Crimes Legislation At Press Conference- [In a news conference in
the U.S. Capitol on October 23, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) hailed
Thursday nights final passage of long-sought legislation to
strengthen federal hate crime laws. Leahy is chief sponsor of
the hate crimes legislation that is now headed to President Obama,
who has said he will sign it. The hate crimes measure will
broaden federal hate crimes law to include crimes based on gender,
sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. To read more
about the legislation, or to see video from the press conference
click
here.]
October 21:
Leahy,
Senate Leaders Announce Amendment To Promote Fair Competition Within
Health Insurance Industry- [On October 21, Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-Nev.) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) at a press conference
to announce that he will offer an amendment to health care reform
legislation that will eliminate antitrust exemptions for insurance
companies. To read more about the legislation, or to see video from
the press conference click
here.]
October 17:
Leahy Presents 13th Annual Economic Women's Conference- [On October 18, Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced Lilly Ledbetter at the 13th Annual
Women's Economic Opportunity Conference at Vermont Technical College
in Randolph. Ledbetter was the inspiration for the
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act which
will help workers hurt by blatant pay discrimination.
Ledbetter addressed a crowd of hundreds of Vermonters who attended
this year's Conference.]
October 7:
Delegation
Huddles With Energy Secretary To Underscore Support For Vermont�s
Smart Grid Application
- [On October 7, Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and
Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) met with Energy Secretary Steven Chu
in Leahy's Washington D.C. office. The Delegation discussed several
energy and green economy initiatives in which Vermont is emerging as
a model for the nation. They also supported Vermont's application
for "Smart Grid" investments under the economic recovery act. To
read more about the meeting, click
here.
You can also read more about pending energy legislation currently
before Congress by clicking
here.]
September
2009
September 30:
Open
Government Groups Applaud Leahy's Leadership On FOIA, Transparency- [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) received a certificate of appreciation from more
than 40 open government advocates, including the Vermont Press
Association and the Vermont Coalition for Open Government, on Wednesday,
September 30, in Washington, D.C. Leahy is a longtime advocate of
open, transparent government, and has been a leader in Congress in
pushing for reforms to update and strengthen the Freedom of Information
Act. Pictured from left to right are: Daniel Metcalfe,
Director, Collaboration on Government Secrecy; American University; Mary
Alice Baish, American Association of Law Libraries; Kristin Adair,
National Security Archive; Corinna Zarek, Reporters Committee for
Freedom of the Press; Senator Leahy; Patrice McDermott,
OpenTheGovernment.org; and Meredith Fuchs, National Security
Archive.
Click to read more about the hearing on FOIA that Leahy chaired.]
September 19:
Leahy
Brings Senate Panel To Vermont To Gauge Role Of Consolidation In
Limiting Competition Of Northeast's Dairy Farms- [On
September 19, 2009, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) lead a Senate
Judiciary Committee hearing in St. Albans on to look into the
antitrust issues in the dairy industry. Leahy was joined by Senator
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Witnesses who testified included
Christine Varney, head of the anti-trust division of the Department
of Justice, and several Vermont farmers. Click
here
to read more about the hearing.]
September 15:
Leahy Joins Sanders For Press Conference On Dairy Crisis
- [On September 15, 2009, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), several other Senators, and the
National Farmers Union for a press conference in support of dairy
farmers around the country. Leahy, joined by Sanders, will hold a
Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing in St. Albans on Saturday,
September 19, to look into the antitrust issues in the dairy industry.
Click here to
read Leahy's prepared statement and click
here to
learn more about the upcoming field hearing.]
August
2009
August 28:
Leahy Announces Funding For Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Biofuel
Project
- [On
Friday, August 28, 2009, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced new
federal funding for Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, which will
administer grants around the state to help research and development
of fuels from crops. One such grant is going to the North
Hardwick Dairy, where brothers Nick and Taylor Meyer will use the
grant to buy a press to make sunflower oil and meal for their dairy
cows. Senator Leahy is shown here at the North Hardwick Dairy
with (left to right) Nick and Taylor.]
August 19:
Leahy
Addresses Employees Of Bennington's Plasan North America- [On
August 19, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke to employees of
Plasan North America in Bennington, Vermont. In the past two
months, Leahy has announced Department of Defense contracts of over
$2 billion for Plasan North America and Wisconsin-based Oshkosh
Corporation to produce 3,944 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All
Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) for use by the American troops in
Afghanistan. Leahy is pictured here speaking in front of one
the M-ATVs. For more information, click here.]
August 19:
Leahy Dedicates Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery In Pittsford, Vt.
- [On
August 19, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) visited the Pittsford
hatchery for a dedication ceremony. The hatchery was renamed
the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery, through legislation
authored by Leahy. The renaming honors President Eisenhower's
famed June 1955 visit to Vermont, during which he did some fishing
at Furnace Brook. Shown above, Leahy helps unveil the
hatchery's new sign, along with Governor Jim Douglas and several
hatchery employees.]
August 6:
Senate
Confirms Sotomayor To Nation's High Court- [BREAKING
NEWS: On August 6, 2009, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge
Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associated Justice of the Supreme Court by
a vote of 68 to 31. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) presided over Sotomayor's
confirmation hearings. After the vote, Leahy applauded this
historic confirmation and said it is one of his votes for a Supreme
Court Justice for which he is most proud. Click
here to read more about Sotomayor and the confirmation process.]
July
2009
July 29:
Leahy-Led
Coalition Presses Ag. Sec. On Short-Term Boost In U.S. Dairy Price
Supports- [On
July 29, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) met with Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack and 12 other senators, including Sen. Bernie
Sanders (I-Vt.). The senators called the meeting to discuss
dairy price supports and to urge Vilsack to use his authority to
raise the floor price to help farmers all over the country who are
facing falling milk and dairy product prices. To read more
about this meeting, click
here.]
July 28:
Judiciary Committee Reports Sotomayor Nomination To Senate- [On
July 28, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on the
nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court. The Committee reported the nomination
favorably to the Senate floor by a bipartisan vote of 13-6. To
read more about Sotomayor's nomination, click
here.]
July 28:
Judiciary Committee Reports Sotomayor Nomination To Senate- [On
July 28, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on the
nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court. The Committee reported the nomination
favorably to the Senate floor by a bipartisan vote of 13-6. To
read more about Sotomayor's nomination, click
here.]
July 22:
Leahy
Receives Justice For All Award from the American Association of
People With Disabilities- [On
July 22, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) received a Justice For All
Award from the American Association of People With Disabilities
(AAPD) at a reception in Washington, D.C. marking the 5th
anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Leahy is pictured here (left to right) with Andrew Imparato, the
President and CEO of AAPD, Leahy, and Sarah Launderville, Executive
Director of the Vermont Center for Independent Living.]
July 22:
Senate
Judiciary Committee Hearing on Foreign Investment Program- [On
July 22, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired a Senate Judiciary
Committee hearing on a key foreign investor program administered by
U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). Bill Stenger,
president of Jay Peak Resort, testified at the hearing on the
benefits of the program in generating development projects and jobs
for Vermonters. Pictured here are the witnesses who testified
before the Committee (left to right): Robert Kruszka with (USCIS);
Stephen Yale-Loehr, executive director of Invest in the USA; Stenger;
and Michael Dougherty, former U.S. Citizenship & Immigration
Services Ombudsman. To read more about this hearing, click
here.]
July 22:
Senate
Judiciary Committee Hearing on Foreign Investment Program- [On
July 22, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired a Senate Judiciary
Committee hearing on a key foreign investor program administered by
U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). Bill Stenger,
president of Jay Peak Resort, testified at the hearing on the
benefits of the program in generating development projects and jobs
for Vermonters. Pictured here is Stenger who testified before
the Committee and took questions from several Senators. To read more
about this hearing, click
here.]
July 16:
Day Four:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [On Thursday, July 16,
2009, the Senate Judiciary
Committee completed the second round of questioning and moved to the
outside witness panels. Shown here, is the third panel of
witnesses, which included (from left to rigth) Louis Freeh, Chuck
Canterbury, David Cone, Kate Stith, Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Sandy
Froman, David Kopel and Ilya Somin. Click
here for the full list of outside witnesses testifying before
the Committee.]
July 14:
PHOTO BY SENATOR LEAHY:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [Senator Leahy took several photographs of the hearing room during
a break on July 14, 2009. Here, he took one of Judge Sotomayor
from his seat at the center of the dias.]
July 14:
PHOTO BY SENATOR LEAHY:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [Senator
Leahy took several photographs of the hearing room
during a break on July 14, 2009. This one shows Judge
Sotomayor at the table where she sat for several days answering
questions from senators on the Judiciary Committee.]
July 14:
PHOTO BY SENATOR LEAHY:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [Senator
Leahy took several photographs of the hearing room
during a break on July 14, 2009. From his seat at the dias,
Senator Leahy had a unique vantage point of all the photographers at
the hearing.]
July 14:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [On July 14, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT.)
chaired the second day of the hearing on the nomination of
Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the
Supreme Court. During the first day of the hearing, senators
gave their opening remarks. During the second day, each
senator has 30 minutes to ask questions of Judge Sotomayor. For more information on the confirmation
hearings or to watch them LIVE, click here.]
July 13:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [On July
13, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT.) chaired the hearing on the
nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. During
the first day of the hearing, senators on the Judiciary Committee
will give their opening remarks, followed by Judge Sotomayor's
opening remarks. For more information on the confirmation
hearings or to watch them LIVE, click here.
Judge Sonia Sotomayor is shown here on the first day of her
confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.]
July 13:
Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To The Supreme Court- [On July
13, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT.) chaired the hearing on the
nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. During
the first day of the hearing, senators on the Judiciary Committee
will give their opening remarks, followed by Judge Sotomayor's
opening remarks. For more information on the confirmation
hearings or to watch them LIVE, click here.
Pictured here at the hearing (from left to right) Sen. Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah),Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Chairman Leahy,
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)]
July 10: - [On July 10, 2009, Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) attended a reception for the opening of the
Wampum Belts of the Chartres Cathedral Exhibit at the Shelburne
Museum. The belts on exhibit were made by the Huron and Abneki
in the 17th century and then given to the French Jesuit order of the
Catholic Church. Leahy is pictured to the left with the French
Ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, who gave remarks at
the reception. This reception was part of the Quadricentennial
celebration.]
July 7:
Sotomayor "Consensus Judge" On Criminal Justice Issues- [On
July 7, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT.) was joined by leaders of
the nation's premier law enforcement organizations for a press
conference on Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
During the press conference, Leahy released the results of a study
by the Senate Judiciary Committee of Sotomayor's appellate decisions
in criminal cases. To read the study and for more information
on the upcoming confirmation hearings, click
here.
]
June
2009
June 17:
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Department of Justice
Oversight- [On
June 17, Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the Senate
Judiciary Committee. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired the
hearing which focused on oversight of the Department of Justice.
Attorney General Holder answered questions about the Department's
enforcement of hate crimes laws, about the justification for
unwarranted surveillance of Americans, and the placement of
Guantanamo detainees. To read Leahy's full statement, click
here.]
June 17:
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Department of Justice
Oversight- [On
June 17, Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the Senate
Judiciary Committee. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired the
hearing which focused on oversight of the Department of Justice.
Attorney General Holder answered questions about the Department's
enforcement of hate crimes laws, about the justification for
unwarranted surveillance of Americans, and the placement of
Guantanamo detainees. To read Leahy's full statement, click
here.]
June 16:
Remarks At UDC School of Law Rauh Lecture- [Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) delivered the Rauh Lecture at the University
of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.
Leahy spoke about the upcoming confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia
Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States. To read Leahy's full statement, click
here
and to find out more about Sotomayor's nomination process, click
here.]
June 2:
Leahy Meets With Judge Sonia Sotomayor - [On June 2, Sen. Patrick
Leahy (D-Vt.) met with Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who was nominated by
President Obama to replace Justice David Souter. As Chairman of the
Senate Judiciary Committee, Leahy will oversee Sotomayor's
confirmation hearings. To read Leahy's comments or to listen
to audio from the press conference following their meeting, click
here.]
May
2009
May 20:
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2010 State Department
Budget Request-[On
May 20, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton appeared before the Senate Subcommittee On
State and Foreign Operations regarding President
Obama's budget requests for Fiscal Year 2010.
Click
here to read Leahy's full statement.]
May 20:
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2010 State Department
Budget Request-[On
May 20, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton appeared before the Senate Subcommittee On
State and Foreign Operations regarding President
Obama's budget requests for Fiscal Year 2010.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who chairs the
subcommittee, and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) are shown
here meeting with Sec. Clinton prior to the hearing.
Click
here to read Leahy's full statement.]
May 18:
Opening of Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Exhibit
at Burlington Airport
-[On
May 18, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined Lake
Champlain Maritime Museum Director Art Cohn to open
a new Lake Champlain Quadricentennial exhibit at the
Burlington International Airport. The Exhibit
features art and reproductions of vessels that
travelled on Lake Champlain. Above, Cohn is showing
a vessel to Leahy and his wife Marcelle.]
May 4:
Leahy Announces $1M Federal Appropriation For
Burlington Technical Center Aviation Technology
Program-[On
Monday, May 4, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced
a $1 million NASA grant for the Burlington Technical
Center's Aviation Technology Center. Leahy was
joined by students from the Technical Center, Lt.
Governor Brian Dubie, Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss,
Laura Zeno of the UVM-NASA EPSCoR program, and the
director of the Aviation Technology Program Rick
Sylvester. To read more about the grant, click
here.]
April
2009
April 30:
Captain Richard Phillips Visits Washington-[On
April 30, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and his
wife Marcelle met with Capt. Richard Phillips and
his wife Andrea while Phillips was on Capitol Hill
to testify about his experience being kidnapped by
Somali pirates. Mrs. Leahy and Mrs. Phillips
are both registered nurses and are both graduates of
Rice High School. Leahy and Sen. Bernie
Sanders (I-Vt.) co-authored a Senate resolution that
passed the Senate on April 22 to honor Phillips and
his rescuers. Click
here to read more or to watch Leahy's statement
on the resolution.]
April 28:
Vermonters Testify At Hearing During National Crime
Victims' Rights Week-[On
April 28, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired a
hearing on the 25th Anniversary of the Victims of
Crime Act, which was passed by Congress to protect
and support victims of crime. Two Vermonters
testified at the hearing; Leahy is pictured here
(left to right) with Sue Russell of Warren, a crime
victim survivor, and Judy Rex, the Executive
Director of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim
Services. Click
here for more on the hearing. Photo Credit: U.S.
Senate Photographic Studio]
April 28:
Anti-Fraud Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Senate-[On
Tuesday, April 28, the Senate passed, by a vote of
92 to 4, a bill to bolster existing tools and
increase resources to combat fraud. Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced this bill in
February to help rebuild the nation's capacity to
investigate and prosecute the mortgage and corporate
frauds that have undermined the economy and hurt
working people. Click
here to read more.]
April 26:
Face The Nation -[On
Sunday, April 26, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
appeared on CBS's Face the Nation to discuss
recent developments in the legal reasoning behind
the Bush Administration's torture policies Leahy's
proposal of a Commission of Inquiry. Leahy is
pictured here taking questions from reporters
outside the CBS studio in Washington, D.C., right
after appearing on the show.]
April 22:
Press Conference On Anti-Fraud Bill-[On
Wednesday, April 22, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.) was joined by Sens. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and
Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at a press conference
on a bill to strengthen the enforcement of
anti-fraud bills. This bill will increase the
tools available to help prosecutors combat fraud by
authorizing funding and amending federal law to give
law enforcement enhanced tools for fighting fraud.
To read more about this bill or to watch the press
conference, click
here.]
April 2:
Online Chat With Students From Stowe Elementary-[On
April 2, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) held his fourth
online chat of the year with twelve students from
Stowe Elementary's student council. Using a web
camera and microphones allows the Senator to hear
the students questions, which ranged from asking
about who inspired him to whether he has any pets. To learn more about online chats, click
here.]
April 1:
Hearing on Civilian Victims of War-[Ca
Van Tran testified April 1 before the Senate State
and Foreign Operations Subcommittee at a hearing on
assistance for civilian war victims. Van Tran
is the President of Vietnam Assistance for the
Handicapped, which provides help to people in
Vietnam who have been injured by landmines left over
from the Vietnam War. This program is
supported by the Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF). To
read more about the hearing and the LWVF, click
here.]
March
2009
March 30:
American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Workshop-[On March 30, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy and
Governor James Douglas, and Vermont Sen. Peter Shumlin presented the
second statewide conference on the recently enacted economic
recovery plan. The free conference was held in the historic
Latchis Theater and the Marlboro College Technology Center in
Brattleboro. Nearly 500 people attended the event to help
Vermonters better understand how this bill will help Vermont's
economy. Click
here for more information and to read brochures from the
conference.]
March 25:
Organic Award Named After Senator Leahy
-[On
March 25, 2009, the Organic Trade Association (OTA)
established an award in Senator Leahy's name.
The Patrick J. Leahy Organic Award will be given to
individuals who show leadership, dedication and
overall excellence in furthering the development of
organic agriculture. From left to right: Bob
Gray; Julia Sabin, President of the OTA Board; and
Christine Bushway, OTA Executive Director.]
March 25:
Mueller Testifies At Senate Judiciary Committee
Hearing-[On
March 25, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired a
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which the
Director of the F.B.I testified. This was the
first major oversight hearing the Judiciary
Committee has held in the 111th Congress. To
read, hear or watch Leahy's opening statement, click
here.]
March 16:
Leahy Opens "Sunshine Week" With FOIA Speech At
American University-[On
March 16, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) delivered
the keynote address at the Second Annual Freedom Of
Information Day at American University Washington
College of Law. March 16 is the first day of
Sunshine Week, a national observance spotlighting
the importance of open government. Leahy is a
longtime supporter of government transparency and
was awarded the
Robert Vaughn FOIA Legend Award. To read more
about Sunshine Week and Leahy's full statement,
click here.
Leahy is pictured here with Professor Robert Vaughn
and Thomas Downey, a former Representative from New
York.]
March 16:
Leahy Opens �Sunshine Week� With FOIA Speech At
American University-[On
March 16, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) delivered
the keynote address at the Second Annual Freedom Of
Information Day at American University Washington
College of Law. March 16 is the first day of
Sunshine Week, a national observance spotlighting
the importance of open government. Leahy is a
longtime supporter of government transparency and
was awarded the
Robert Vaughn FOIA Legend Award. To read more
about Sunshine Week and Leahy's full statement,
click here.]
March 11:
Online Chat With Thomas Fleming Fourth and Fifth
Graders-[On
March 11, Senator Leahy chatted online from his
Washington, D.C. office with fourth and fifth grade
students from Thomas Fleming School in Essex. They
used online video to see and hear the students and
the Senator's responses. Many Vermonters do not
have the opportunity to travel to Washington to
visit, and this is one way to bring Washington into
the classroom. Click
here to learn more about this and previous
online chats.]
March 7:
Ribbon Cutting For 20 Affordable Rental Units And
Champlain Housing Trust's New Headquarters
-[On
Saturday, March 7, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
joined Champlain Housing Trust CEO Brenda Torpy
(pictured to the left of Leahy in this photo) and
other project partners at the official opening of 20
new units of affordable rental housing. The new
headquarters of Champlain Housing Trust also moved
into the building. Leahy helped secure a $434,000
Housing and Urban Development grant for this
project, which totals $10 million.]
March 6:
American Recovery And Reinvestment Act: Vermont
Workshop-[On
Friday, March 6, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
and Gov. James Douglas held a workshop to help
Vermonters better understand the Economic Recovery
bill recently signed into law. Over 700 Vermonters
attended the workshop, held at Champlain College in
Burlington. Another workshop is scheduled for later
this month in Brattleboro. For more details on
Friday's workshop and for details on the upcoming
Brattleboro session, check
here.]
March 3:
Leahy, Hatch, Conyers, Smith Introduce Bipartisan,
Bicameral Patent Reform Legislation-[On
Tuesday, March 3, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
pictured here with (left to right) Sen. Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Lamar
Smith (R-Texas) at a press conference to introduce
patent reform legislation. The Senate and House
bills introduced are similar to bipartisan
legislation introduced in the last Congress. For
more information and to read a section-by-section
summary, click
here.]
February
2009
February 24:
Leahy Shares Coffee With Vermonters
-[On
Tuesday, February 24, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) met
with several Vermont groups during a Green Mountain
Coffee Hour hosted in Leahy's Washington, D.C.
office. Each spring Leahy hosts a series of
coffee hours that allow Vermonters a unique
opportunity to meet with the Senator and his staff.
To find out when the next coffee hour will be,
please contact
the Senator's office by email or by phone.]
February 11:
Online Chat With Rutland Middle School's
Eighth-Grade Class-[On
February 11, Senator Leahy chatted online from his
Washington, D.C. office with students from Rutland
Middle School's eighth-grade class. They used
online video to see and hear the students and the
Senator's responses. Many Vermonters do not have
the opportunity to travel to Washington to visit,
and this is one way to bring Washington into the
classroom. Click
here to learn more about this and previous
online chats.]
February 9:
Restoring Trust in the Justice System: The Senate
Judiciary Committee's Agenda In The 111th Congress-[Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke before a crowd on
February 9 at the 2009 Marver H. Bernstein Symposium
on Governmental Reform at Georgetown University.
He spoke on the legislative priorities for the
Senate Judiciary Committee in the 111th Congress.
Leahy spoke of the many issues now facing the
Committee, from filling federal court vacancies to
increasing transparency in government to forming a
reconciliation and truth commission in order to
examine the last administration. Click here
to read Leahy's full statement.]
February 5: Vermont
Mother's Ordeal In Peanut-Salmonella Case Shows Need
For 'Jail Time' -[On
February 5, 2009, Gabrielle Meunier of South
Burlington testified before the Senate Agriculture
Committee about her experience when her 7-year-old
son Christopher fell ill in a case connected to the
peanut-salmonella outbreak. Sen. Leahy, a
senior member of the Committee, called for a
thorough criminal investigation in to the Peanut
Corporation of America. Click
here to learn more.]
January
2009
January 29: Signing
of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act -[Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) worked to pass legislation in
the last Congress to help workers hurt by blatant
pay discrimination, but it was blocked by the Bush
Administration. On January 29, 2009, Leahy visited
the White House to join President Barack Obama as he
signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act,
the President's first bill signing, where he took
this backstage photo. Click here
to read more about this important legislation.]
January 28: Judiciary
Committee Reports Holder Nomination To Senate-[On
January 28, 2009, by a vote of 17 to 2, the Senate
Judiciary Committee reported to the full Senate the
nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. to be the next
Attorney General. Holder's nomination by President
Obama was officially announced on December 1, 2008
and the Committee held two days of hearings on
January 15 and January 16. Click
here to read Sen. Leahy's full statement and to
watch video of his statement before the Committee.]
January 28: Judiciary
Committee Reports Holder Nomination To Senate-[On
January 28, 2009, by a vote of 17 to 2, the Senate
Judiciary Committee reported to the full Senate the
nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. to be the next
Attorney General. Holder's nomination by President
Obama was officially announced on December 1, 2008
and the Committee held two days of hearings on
January 15 and January 16. Click
here to read Sen. Leahy's full statement and to
watch video of his statement before the Committee.]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. Members of
Congress presented President Obama with a gift of
this glass bowl with a White House engraving. Click
here for more photos.]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama.
After the ceremony, President Barack Obama addressed
Members of Congress at a luncheon. Click
here for more photos.]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. A
close-up of the tape markers behind the podium where
President Obama took the oath of office. Click
here for more photos. ]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. A
view from behind the podium where President Barack
Obama took the oath of office. Click
here for more photos. ]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. From
left to right, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. Patrick
Kennedy enjoy the day. Click
here for more photos. ]
January 20:
Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
had a unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. From
left to right, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Carl Levin
smile for the camera. Click
here for more photos. ]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama.
The day is reflected
in a tuba. Click
here for more photos.]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
had a unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. Vermonter
Colonel Michael Coburn directs the Marine Band.
Click
here for more photos. ]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
had a unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. The
temperature was cold enough to freeze the reflecting
pool near the Capitol. The crowd skated across
during the ceremony. Click
here for more photos. ]
January 20: Inauguration
of the 44th President of the United States, Barack
Obama-[On
January 20, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had a
unique vantage point from which to enjoy the
inauguration ceremony of the 44th President of the
United States, Barack Obama. With other
members of Congress, Leahy had a clear view of just
how large the crowds were on the National Mall.
Click
here for more photos.]
January 17: Op-Ed
-
Capturing The Moment In An Image-[On
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy
snapped this photo of President-elect Barack Obama
in front of a portrait of George Washington in the
Mansfield Room of the Capitol. Click here to read
Leahy's Op-Ed to the Brattleboro Reformer on this
moment caught on film.]
January 15: Confirmation
Hearing For Eric Holder To Be Attorney General-[On
Thursday, January 15, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.) chaired a confirmation hearing of Eric
Holder Jr. to be the next Attorney General.
During the hearing, Holder has answered questions
from senators on many issues, including Guantanamo
Bay, executive privilege, the United States' torture
policies, and the controversial pardon of fugitive
Marc Rich. Click
here to learn more about Holder and to watch or
listen to the hearing.]
January 8: Leahy
Chairs Hearing On Law Enforcement Assistance-[On
January 8, 2009, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired
the first Senate Judiciary Committee hearing of the
111th Congress to examine proposals to provide
resources for underfunded law enforcement programs
in the economic stimulus package. Leahy is
shown here with (left to right) Michael Schirling,
Chief of Police for the Burlington Police
Department; Alfonso E. Lenhardt, former Senate
Sergeant at Arms, current President and CEO of the
National Crime Prevention Council; and Charles
Ramsey, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police
Department. To read more about this hearing, click
here.]
