Online Chat

Senator Leahy held an Internet Chat with Stockbridge Central Fifth and Sixth Grade Classes
March 21, 2002

Sen Leahy: Hello

Sen Leahy: I am Janice Ryan, a member of Senator Leahy's staff

Stockcen: welcome to stockbridge my name is jonathan

Sen Leahy: The Senator is finishing up a speech on the Senate floor and is on his way back to the office for this chat

Sen Leahy: Hello Jonathan, how's the weather up there in Stockbridge?

Stockcen: pretty nasty we just got a bunch of snow 8"

Sen Leahy: I am from Sheldon, VT in Franklin County - near St. Albans. My family said that they have had a lot of snow too!

Sen Leahy: It is starting to look like Spring down here in Washington - the trees are beginning to bloom and it is almost 60 degrees today

Stockcen: we have some questions we would like to ask

Sen Leahy: That is great - if you have any questions for me, I could answer those but you might like to wait for Senator Leahy!

Stockcen: we'll wait

Stockcen: please tell us when he comes

Sen Leahy: here he comes!

Sen Leahy: Hi - good to be with you!

Stockcen: hello our names are rosie jonathan and tanner

Stockcen: we have some questions

Sen Leahy: Good to be with you Rosie, Jonathan and Tanner. Enjoyed the photos you e-mailed

Stockcen: how many days do you work in a week?

Sen Leahy: I usually work most days. I think last year I only had 3 or 4 weekends off. It is fascinating work and I do enjoy it. Next week I will get a chance to take a little time off with my wife and am looking foward to it.

Sen Leahy: I also divide my time between Washington and Vermont and I have offices in both places

Sen Leahy: Tanner I got a kick out of your hat in the pictures!

Stockcen: does the leahy law mean that landmines are banned from use in the us and other countries

Sen Leahy: The Leahy law means that we canont export landmines from the United States to other countries. A lot of other countries have now adopted "Leahy Laws" for the same reason. We also have the Leahy War Victims Fund which spends millions of dollars each year to help victims of landmines around the world.

Stockcen: how long did it take for you to pass the leahy law in the u.s.?

Sen Leahy: It took several years of work and lobbying to pass the Leahy law. Since then we have passed several other pieces of legislation to help clean up landmines. When you try something new sometimes it seems to take forever to get people to agree with it. Now most people do.

Stockcen: how many people are injured by landmines annually?

Sen Leahy: We don't know how many people are injured but it is in the thousands. In most countries the injuries are to innocent civilians especially children.

Stockcen: how hard is it to be a senator?

Sen Leahy: Being a Senator requires you to read hundreds of pages of material almost every day. There are long hours [sometimes from very early morning until after midnight] but all the work is fascinating. I also have a staff of the brightest hardest working men and women you can imagine and could not do it without them.

Stockcen: how many presidents have you met?

Stockcen: how many laws does the senate pass each year?

Sen Leahy: I have served here with 6 Presidents and got to know each of them. I also met three former Presidents but did not know them well.

Sen Leahy: The Senate passes hundreds of laws each year but most are relatively routine. Yesterday we passed a major piece of legislation: That was the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.

Stockcen: did you live anywhere but Vermont?

Sen Leahy: I was born in Vermont and live on a tree farm just a few miles from where I was born. When the Senate is in session I live in a house I bought about 10 miles from the Capitol building.

Stockcen: how many laws have you passed that you have felt passionate about?

Sen Leahy: I have passed a number over the year that I felt very strongly about. Getting the Dairy Compact through with the help of all the Vermont Delegation was one, the landmine ban was another and some of my anti-terrorism legislation was in another area. I have worked very hard on the laws I've passed to relieve hunger in the United States and in other countries.

Stockcen: do you think that the internet is a safe place for kids?

Stockcen:

Sen Leahy: I thik the Internet has some great things for kids - like this chat. But just as there are things even in some bookstores that could be bad for kids the Internet has some bad places. That is something kids should work with their teachers and parents and they should be open about where on the Net they go and follow the advice of their teachers and parents

Sen Leahy: Have time for maybe one more and then I have to go back to the Senate floor

Stockcen: how much longer do you think you will be in the senate? Other political positions?

Sen Leahy: I can tell from your questions that you are good students and obviously have good teachers. I've enjoyed being with you and hope you can visit Washington some time. I have nearly 3 years left in my term. I would not run for anything else and if I run again it will be for the Senate. I would want to protect Vermont's seniority and it is in the Senate where I can do the most for Vermont.

Stockcen: thank you very much for chatting! Tanner Jonathan Rosie

Sen Leahy: Hope you all have a great day and I enjoyed being with you:-)

Stockcen: bye!8-)