Dick Durbin: “40 years ago this week, a young prosecutor from Vermont was sworn into the Senate. He was part of a historic group of…”

“40 years ago this week, a young prosecutor from Vermont was sworn into the Senate. He was part of a historic group of lawmakers often referred to as the ``Watergate babies.'' Today that man is President pro tempore emeritus as well as the most senior Member of the Senate. It is an honor to serve with him and to recognize Senator Patrick Leahy for reaching this historic milestone. Patrick Leahy remains the youngest Senator--and the only Democratic Senator--ever sent to this body by the people of his home State of Vermont. But that is not what makes Patrick Leahy exceptional. What makes him exceptional is the fact that he is a consensus builder--a thoughtful man committed to making government work better. It has been a privilege for me to work closely with Senator Leahy serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee. As a member of that committee since 1979 and for many years as chairman, Senator Leahy made a profound mark on America's system of justice. He has voted on the nominations of every sitting member of the U.S. Supreme Court. He has fought to preserve the balance between liberty and security during especially difficult times. Senator Leahy has also fought to make America's respect for human rights a cornerstone of our Nation's foreign policy. He has been a leader in the global effort to ban antipersonnel landmines. He championed the ``Leahy Law'' to prevent U.S. tax dollars from benefiting human rights abusers abroad.…”