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 think the Agency and Congress need to think through the U.S. Government's moral responsibilities to any American, even a lowly contractor, that it puts into harms way by ordering them to engage in programs that are illegal under the host…
If we did not have our embargo, you would have so many American companies down there, fighting for the chance to do this and very openly doing it, it would have accomplished a lot more than this program did.
There were quite a few efforts made to conceal the fact that it was a Government program.
There are USAID people who are doing wonderful things that you and I would applaud all over the world, many at great risk to themselves because of the places they are in.
If you could figure out that it meant this, you are a lot better than most of us.
I would like to see free markets in Cuba. I would like to see an openness there.
His incarceration is offensive and completely inappropriate, and entirely the responsibility of the Cuban authorities that are holding him for simply carrying out an effort to help people gain access to the Internet.
I am told by everybody in the Administration, 'Oh, we are working so hard on this,' but I do not see where they have achieved anything.
Thank you for your partnership and support for child survival, for malaria, for all the issues you have fought and worked hard on over the years.
This one had, this one from the get-go had no possibility of working. That is my problem with it.
No. Whose idea was it for this specific program? I have read the legislation.
It is the same program that got Alan Gross arrested. He is in his fifth year of a 15 year sentence, which at his age is basically a death sentence.
It is long past time for the administration and the Cuban Government to negotiate a resolution of this ordeal so Mr. Gross can return home.
I know it was in place before you arrived. But do you know whose idea it was?
There is a way to resolve it, there is ample precedent for doing so, it is in our national interest, and it could be done immediately if the Administration really wants to.
I worry about our foreign aid programs. I am worried that they are not as relevant or effective as we may think and say they are.
I have always assumed it is sustainable development, and I believe, Dr. Shah, you would agree with that.
I do not want to over generalize, but these activities are often not the same as building institutions and organizations, owned and run by foreign governments and communities which, to me, is what real development, sustainable development…
Frankly, I don't know how a small country like that handles the enormous burden put on it, but I applaud them for it.
Part of the Administration's policy is to continue to support efforts to allow for open communications.
There is the risk to young, unsuspecting Cuban cellphone users who had no idea this was a U.S. Government-funded activity.
The entire foreign operations budget is about 1 percent of Federal spending, and the world is rapidly changing.
Politicians like Patrick Leahy
