The Public Record
Patrick Leahy is a former United States Senator from Vermont, serving from 1975 until 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving senator in Vermont's history and held significant leadership roles, including President pro tempore of the Senate. Throughout his tenure, Leahy was known for his work on issues such as civil liberties, health care, and environmental protection. He played a key role in various legislative efforts, including the Violence Against Women Act and initiatives to reform the criminal justice system.
I'm sorry that this administration repeatedly, insistently, and unrelentingly justified preemptive war by insisting that Saddam Hussein not only had weapons of mass destruction, but he was hell bent on using them against us and our allies.
I'm sorry that truth-tellers in the administration, like General Shinseki and Lawrence Lindsey, were hounded out of their job.
Mr. Black, one of the things that the United States is admired most for is our values.
In Iraq, after squandering the good will afforded us after the September 11 attacks, we are floundering.
We are giving billions of dollars in aid to corrupt, autocratic regimes that are the antithesis of democracy and American values.
I think that many of the administration's foreign policies are taking us in the wrong direction.
I agree, but I could name a lot of countries where we give aid that are autocratic and we seem to be increasing our aid.
I have supported USAID as much as any Member of this Senate and I just, you know----
We've appropriated $18 billion and we're told we had to do it immediately, needed it yesterday.
I believe that many of this Administration's foreign policies are taking us in the wrong direction.
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