Patrick Leahy

I am pleased that President Obama has called for the immediate investment in health information technology.

The United Nations says a compound sheltering U.N. national staff inside the safety zone was shelled on January 24 and 25, killing at least 9 civilians and wounding more than 20.

I am extremely disappointed. But they have that right. And this historic, historic nomination is held over.

I think all of us, Republicans and Democrats, wish we were inheriting the economic situation that President Clinton left to his successor rather than the one that is being left to President Obama.

A threshold question lawmakers should ask is whether reporters will obey the law if it is enacted.

Whistleblowers who raise concerns with management or who bring concerns to Congress and cooperate with congressional oversight efforts should be protected, not retaliated against.

I hope that I have your assurance that, if you are confirmed, you will assist me with oversight activities.

Will you make enforcement of this a priority, including enforcement in Indian country?

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, who is leaving to become Vice President.

We need the Justice Department to be at its best.

The responsibilities of the Attorney General of the United States are too important to have this appointment delayed by partisan bickering.

Isn't it amazing, what a busy day this is in the Senate?

I will work with Senator Kyl and Senators on both sides of the aisle on that, but especially on these immigration matters.

Behind me sits Eric Holder, and the President-elect has exercised his judgment that this is the individual whom he deems best qualified--from the hundreds of thousands of lawyers serving in the United States, the best qualified to become…

The newly reelected and senior Senator from South Carolina, Senator Graham.

I hope to work with you in a productive way on legitimate concerns that I and others in the Senate have about the extent of Government's surveillance powers.

I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to appear this morning and participate in what I regard, and I think you regard, as one of the most solemn responsibilities of the United States Senate: fulfilling our constitutional responsibility…

I have joined this morning out of friendship, but also I weigh very heavily coming before the Senate again so soon after my retirement, but I felt that I wanted to be among those all across this Nation who are working for a bipartisan…

The election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden and the President-elect's selection of Eric Holder Jr. to be Attorney General of the United States provide a historic opportunity for the country to move past the partisanship of the past decades.

January 15, 2009 Opening statement

We do it for everybody, black, white, Hispanic, whatever they might be, poor, rich, to make sure that the right to vote in this country is given to everybody.

I have been encouraged by the initial reaction of many Republicans, including some serving on this Committee, when Mr. Holder's name was reported as the likely nominee.

We need an Attorney General, as Robert Jackson said 68 years ago, 'who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.'

I probably have been critical of a number of different Presidents' use of that constitutional right.

The Attorney General position must be filled quickly. We remain a Nation at war and a Nation that faces the continuous threat of a terrorist attack.