Patrick Leahy

Is the leader aware this is the first I heard that anybody wanted to? Not a single member of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Republican side even raised to me that they wanted to move forward with them. Is the distinguished majority…

Was the majority leader aware that on at least a couple of occasions, for circuit court of appeals judges, when I came back from Vermont during a recess to hold a hearing at the request of Republicans because they were anxious to get these…

I will not ask how the distinguished Senator from Kentucky would define crocodile tears, but I ask this question of the distinguished majority leader: Was he aware that during the time when Democrats have been in charge, during President…

I commend Senator Feinstein for her efforts. She has worked very hard on this privacy matter. I realize there are some who want to block it. If you are a person who has had your identity stolen, if you have had your computer hacked, and…

One of the people who has done the most to protect so much in Vermont is Paul Bruhn. We Vermonters know that Paul, as the executive director of the Preservation Trust, has done an enormous service by leading conservation efforts to save…

To answer that question, the Senator from Pennsylvania is one of the most articulate, best trial attorneys in this place. He could do in a minute what others would take an hour to do. I did try to take far less time than was used to attack…

As long as there are two candidates fighting for the nomination when it's obvious which one is going to win, all that it does is to help the other party's nominee.

As long as there are two candidates fighting for the nomination when it's obvious which one is going to win, all that it does is to help the other party's nominee.

Today we are introducing the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008. The military is still not structured properly to respond to the domestic emergencies that we know will come again. This legislation…

One of the advantages of growing up in Montpelier, VT, is that I still see friends of mine and my family when I am back home. Glen and Esther Goodall were dear friends of my parents, Howard and Alba Leahy, and it is always nice to catch up…

Today I hope we pass a bipartisan bill that will go a long way in reducing the costs of litigating disputes in our civil justice system. This bill creates a new Federal Rule of Evidence regarding electronic disclosure of privileged…

I thank Senator Specter for joining me in introducing this bill last December, as the first session of this Congress drew to a close. The Judiciary Committee took up and unanimously approved the bill during our first business meeting after…

Let me ask the distinguished majority leader, is it not a fact that these public, spirited telephone company owners are threatening to turn off wiretaps, according to the press accounts, that have been legally ordered through search…

Now, Senator Specter and Senator Kennedy and I introduced a bill to help guide the courts.

The administration has aggressively sought to expand executive power in alarming ways.

Over the course of early January, I invite you and our colleagues to work with me to find viable solutions. It is my intention to seek and hear the views of any and all parties and to include all interested staff and Senators. This will…

As you and I have discussed, successful enactment of patent reform requires the input of all Senators. Over the past months, since the committee reported the bill, I have had numerous meetings with both members and affected interests. I…

It amazes me we are willing to take this lightly. This is the bill we are getting ready to vote on, probably the biggest spending bill that has ever passed in the Senate. It was received yesterday. Normally it is a courtesy in the Senate…

I came here at the time of the Vietnam war. I remember how people said maybe it should end and maybe we should do something; the Vietnam war has gone on too long. We finally stopped it. I am the only Vermonter ever to vote against the war…

I strongly support the enactment of a Federal shield law for journalists, and I urge the Senate to promptly consider and pass Federal shield legislation. All of us have an interest in enacting a balanced and meaningful first amendment…

I agree with the generals, the admirals, and the judge advocates general that waterboarding is torture and is illegal. The generals, the admirals, the judge advocates general say waterboarding is torture and illegal.

And we are certainly not getting our money's worth there, in fact, just the opposite. And I don't see how we actually end up fighting terrorists, if our money is going simply to prop up somebody who has become very, very dictatorial and…

That is true. I would say to my colleague from Arkansas that this subcommittee is not satisfied with the performance of the Department in the last few months with respect to the adjudication and distribution of passports in a timely…

I agree that we should encourage the Department to consider providing such dedicated infrastructure, especially if it will help to alleviate the backlogs that have occurred all over the country.

Of all programs to cut funding for, it would be hard to think of anything more shortsighted than to cut funding for the Global Environment Facility. Unless, I guess, you are among the dwindling few who still believes global warming is a…