Patrick Leahy

I applaud you for doing that and then moving out of our regular place.

What we are doing is we are appointing people to the highest courts in the land, with little more attention and scrutiny than we would pay to appoint these for a temporary Federal commission.

All Americans need to be able to have confidence in the courts and judges.

We were rebuffed on that.

Under Democratic leadership in the Senate we confirmed 100 of President Bush's nominees within 17 months.

We showed how steady progress could be made without sacrificing fairness.

We urge the White House to consult in a bipartisan way and to keep the courts out of politics and partisan ideology.

Many see this as part of a concerted and partisan effort to pack the courts and tilt them sharply out of balance.

Let me add that the subcommittee would appreciate being informed of these discussions. There are millions of impoverished people in Latin America who lack access to clean, safe water, which is a cause of chronic disease and environmental…

The real question today is whether the President will continue to support the new Department with more than words, or whether having used the Senate proposal for political purposes in the last election, he will now simply disengage or move…

The amount we expect to provide in 2002 and 2003 to combat AIDS, which threatens the lives of each of the world's 6 billion people--is less than what my own State of Vermont, with a population of only 600,000 people, will spend on health…

That is correct. Now, some relief organizations have already been told that they may have to shut down programs for lack of funds. This is happening in a country that desperately needs the most basic staples such as water, education and…

I voiced my concerns and the concerns of a great many Vermonters--in fact, a great many Americans from whom I have heard. I spoke about the President's plan to send Americans into battle to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Some have suggested…

I did not know Senator Reed's friend, but after listening to what he said, I feel as though I did know him. The distinguished senior Senator from Rhode Island is fortunate to have had such a friend, but I think his friend was fortunate to…

I say to my friend, the deputy majority leader, it does. We realize, as the Senator from Nevada has pointed out, we have problems with our borders. We have to enhance our ability to monitor the borders and still keep the open borders of…

As you stated earlier, the pending Justice reauthorization conference report establishes an independent Violence Against Women Office, and isn't it true that this Office will be an autonomous and separate office within the Department of…

I tell my distinguished friend, the senior Senator from Nevada, that I checked. I know his office also checked on our side of the aisle. Everybody is in favor. We were told that the Democratic side of the aisle wanted to let it go through…

Due to her good work on the bill, of which she is a prime sponsor, reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act is in this bill. It tracks the Leahy-Hatch-Kennedy-Landrieu bill. We also have authorized funding for…

If there is anything that speaks to the resiliency of this Nation, the greatness of this Nation, it is welcoming immigrants, saying our borders are not sealed, our borders are open. We want to welcome people who will continue to make this…

I note that what has happened here is an idea which has come from the Senator from Texas and the Senator from California, who have worked together in a bipartisan fashion. Actually, this is a nonpartisan issue. They are both parents. The…

First, on a personal basis, earlier, at the opening of the session, it was noted that yesterday was Grandparents Day. I send my best to all those who are grandparents. The Presiding Officer, of course, is far too young to know the joys of…

Last year when the Republicans controlled the Senate Judiciary Committee, they did not hold one hearing on President Bush's nominees. We have done 82.

I tell the distinguished majority leader, the only concern I have had about having rollcall votes is, a couple times we have taken a group of these and had voice votes, with seven, eight going through, and the next day my good friends on…

As much as I like and respect my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, I believe Judge Smith did not keep his commitment in testimony before the Senate, did not keep his commitment to Senator Howell Heflin, a commitment that was made…

My question would be this to the majority leader: Would he agree, in his experience, that nothing would focus the attention more of those executives who have defrauded their own companies and investors than the idea that they would…