Patrick Leahy: “as this Congress draws to a close, much has been and will be said about what has and has not been accomplished. There is…”

“as this Congress draws to a close, much has been and will be said about what has and has not been accomplished. There is no getting away from the fact that Congress has dropped the ball on too many issues of vital importance to the American people. I need only mention campaign finance reform, a patients' bill of rights, and the failure to pass tough legislation on youth smoking. I have spoken often about the failure of this Congress to live up to its constitutional advice and consent responsibilities with respect to nominations. In addition, this is the first year since enactment of the Congressional Budget Act that Congress has failed to pass a budget. There is much about the record of the 105th Congress with which I have been disappointed and with which the American people should find fault. In the area of criminal justice, I particularly regret Congress' failure to pass balanced juvenile crime legislation, the Democratic crime bills, S. 15 and S. 2484, or comprehensive legislation on behalf of crime victims. At the same time, I would like to highlight those important measures that we have been able to pass. The Bulletproof Vests Partnership Grant Act, The Care for Police Survivors Act and The Public Safety Officer Educational Assistance Act These three bills, which I cosponsored, became law this year. Together these measures make a significant package of legislation to benefit the families of those who serve in law enforcement.”