Patrick Leahy: “I rise today to speak principally on behalf of four important pieces of legislation. Two have important implications for…”

“I rise today to speak principally on behalf of four important pieces of legislation. Two have important implications for national security, a third would help keep war criminals and those who commit atrocities abroad out of our country and the fourth would add a degree of fairness for law enforcement victims of September 11. All have been cleared on the Democratic side of the aisle. Three are being blocked by holds placed by anonymous Republican Senators. One has passed the Senate and is being held up by the Republican leadership in the House. I appeal, again, today to our Republican colleagues to stop holding these important bills hostage, remove your secret hold, or at least come forward and identify yourself and your concern so that we may debate and make bipartisan progress on these important legislative matters. First is S. 1974, the FBI Reform Act, which I introduced with Senator Grassley in February, after extensive oversight hearings. This bill would strengthen the FBI in its fight against terrorism, and was reported unanimously by the Judiciary Committee in April of this year.”