Vermont

Online Chats

ghchilds: Hello, Senator Leahy, from the Brookline School.

senator_leahy_2000: I just wish I could be with all of you in person.

ghchilds: We’d like to ask you what is going on with the gas prices. They are way too high.

senator_leahy_2000: I have talked with Sec Richardson [sec of energy] and the President about this as they are too high. The decision made, at our urging, by the OPEC countries this past weekend will help bring them down some in the next few months.

ghchilds: Thank you. What are you doing to help protect endangered animals? Marie, grade 4

senator_leahy_2000: I have always supported the endangered species act but we also have to protect the envronment where these animals live. We were able to bring back the bald eagle by banning DDT for example.

ghchilds: We’ve been watching a pair of nesting Bald Eagles on the Connecticut River. Will all of the schools in the country soon have security to prevent school shootings? Adam, grade 6

senator_leahy_2000: Adam it must be fun to watch the nesting Eagles. We won’t have security in all schools as most do not have the problem and they are safe. What we need to do is make it easier to spot troubled children early and to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them.

ghchilds: What are you doing to be sure that crime does not get worse in the small towns in Vermont? Aaron, grade 4

senator_leahy_2000: Crime control is primarily a local and state responsibility. I was in law enforcement in Vermont for 8 years before becoming a Senator and was frutrated by not having enough resources. Since getting to the Senate I have directed millions of dollars to state and local law enforcement agencies in Vermont.

ghchilds: Thank you. What are you doing to help control drugs and alcohol use and abuse among students?

ghchilds: WE do participate in Project northlands and DARE, on alternate years. -Kendra, grade 6

senator_leahy_2000: Drugs and alcohol are real problems. Everyone has a responsibility here, Parents, peers, teachers - all of us must make sure children know drugs and alcohol abuse is a real dead end. we also need better programs to help drug and alcohol abusers stop.

senator_leahy_2000: Kendra how well does Project Northlands work? I have talked with some of the people involved with it.

ghchilds: We haven’t had a lesson, yet. However, our peer leaders have been trained. the project is research based, and tends to be effective. What are you doing to keep the Internet free for schools? Shelby, grade 4

senator_leahy_2000: Shelby I support the "e-rate" program that Vice President Gore began to make access free and have worked with a number of computer suppliers to get free computers to schools.

ghchilds: Thank you, Senator. How do we get some of those free computers??

ghchilds: What have you done to lessen the racism problem in the United States? Patrick, grade 6

senator_leahy_2000: There are some surplus programs and, if your school is interested have them contact my office and we will see if there are some available.

senator_leahy_2000: Patrick I like your name! Again all of us have to combat racism in our own lives, by not telling racist jokes or shunning people of a differnet race or nationality, by strongly enforcing our civil rights laws - but especially living our own lives free of racism.

ghchilds: What are you doing about polluted rivers and other waters to make them drinkable again? George, grade 4

ghchilds: Do you feel like you’re running for office and we’re the press?

senator_leahy_2000: George I am going to have to leave after your question to go back to the Senate floor. There are many things that can be done. One of the most successful is a program I started in Lake Champlain that has dramitically cut pollution and has brought Vermont, NY and Canada together to do it. It is a lot easier to keep them clean in the first place though

ghchilds: Thank you for your time. We would love to invite you to visit us anytime, here at Brookline School.

senator_leahy_2000: You would make great members of the press. Your questions are a lot better than some I get here in Washington. I am very proud of you. It shows you have great teachers and that you are wonderful students.

senator_leahy_2000: Thanks for having me and I hope i can visit sometime.

ghchilds: Good bye. We’ll be in touch by mail or email soon. Thanks.