Patrick Leahy

I congratulate Senator Hatch for his continuing leadership in improving our copyright, trademark, and patent law. Our intellectual property laws are important engines for our economy, fueling the creative energy responsible for America's…

Having reviewed the hearing record and the nominee's responses to written follow-up questions from the Judiciary Committee, I come today to announce and explain my opposition to the nomination of John Ashcroft to be the Attorney General of…

I should note for the Record, while they sat in the visitors gallery, they were given front row seats, probably coincidental, probably alphabetically, but somehow it was arranged.

This was not a case where there was a concern the embassies were all going bankrupt? The embassy in London or in Moscow or, heaven forbid, in Dublin, might be in bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York? That is not the case?

As the Senator has correctly pointed out, the conference report includes a significant increase for child survival activities at USAID. AID is strongly encouraged to dedicate more recourses to the micronutrient programs.

Yes, we have provided sufficient funds to fund polio eradication at the Senate level of $30 million.

I think it is safe to say VAWA would not be voted on today had it not been for the persistence of the Senator from Delaware. That persistence is something the public has not seen as much as those of us who have been in private meetings…

It is not trial experience. There is a big difference. She deserved a vote just as much as anybody else. She never got the vote. Had she gotten the vote, then I think she would have been confirmed. It is not a question of Judge Rader, whom…

I am glad that the Senate is finally taking up this conference report. Unlike the conference on the Hatch-Leahy juvenile justice bill that passed the Senate in May 1999 with a bipartisan majority of 73 votes, and so many other matters that…

Bonnie Campbell is one of the most qualified people nominated by either a Republican or Democrat in the 25 years I have been on the Judiciary Committee.

Would he also agree with me that if Governor Bush actually means that, he ought to pick up the phone and call the Republican leadership and say there are an awful lot of women and minorities and others who have been bottled up, as well as…

I hope after the elections, no matter who is elected President and no matter what the numbers are in the House and the Senate, that a number of Senators who have had the experience of working together across the aisle will start off the…

I note that each of the component parts of the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act were filed long before July 25. Democratic Senators repeatedly asked for hearings on this proposal, and those requests were repeatedly denied. It is not fair…

I congratulate Congresswoman Karen McCarthy of Missouri, who has worked so hard on this legislation. It provides congressional approval to an interstate compact that is important to her and to the people of Kansas City. I know that she…

I applaud what the distinguished Senator from Illinois has said. He, of course, has worked so long on both the H-1B visas issue and the immigration issues included in the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act. I know of nobody who spends more…

I speak only because I am disappointed the Senate has not yet passed the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2000 that is S. 2413. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed this bill unanimously on June 29. All Members, Republicans and…

I called it the Contract On America. They called it the Contract With America. I think it was a Contract On America.

Ours is a powerful Constitution. It is inspiring because of what it allows. It is inspiring because it protects the liberty of all of us. Think of the responsibility the 100 of us here have. Let us be good stewards. Let's keep for our…

I have referred to Senator Byrd as the Senate's constitutional sage. Senator Byrd has played a leading role in protecting our Constitution over the last several years as it has weathered assault after assault. He counseled the Senate on…

Yes. I say to my friend from Illinois, we may consider sometimes as necessary, under Article V, a constitutional amendment, if the States or Federal Government are unable to do these things otherwise. The fact is, they are doing it very…

I say to my friend, you could probably have 25 constitutional experts who would give you 25 different interpretations of what that word means.

The Senator from Illinois again is absolutely correct. They are defined very carefully in the statute because you have different remedies for different situations. You have different situations in which victims are defined differently…

I would much prefer a statute because, as the distinguished Senator from Illinois and the distinguished Senator from West Virginia know, a statute could be easily changed. It could easily be repealed, if we are wrong. In fact, if the…

It comes very close to those first 10 amendments. The example I used: When we look at copies of the Constitution, going to the Bill of Rights, the 4 or 5 lines in the first amendment, this goes 66 or 67 lines. This is a long, complicated…

I support crime victims' assistance and rights, but I do not support this proposed amendment to the Constitution. Just as opposition to a flag desecration amendment does not mean a Senator is in favor of flag burning, opposition to a…