Patrick Leahy

It is a horrific situation and, unfortunately, it will probably be reflected in the lives of so many of these people, not only throughout the rest of their lives, but maybe generations to come.

I couldn't agree more.

I would like to take this moment to recognize and express our gratitude to President Obama and Secretary Kerry for their relentless efforts.

I want to put your whole statement in the record.

No neighbors of Syria have borne the brunt of this disaster more directly than Jordan and Lebanon, and the world is grateful for their generosity.

We have a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria which continues to unfold.

I want to applaud Senator Graham, who represents republicans on this subcommittee, for his concerns and attention to this issue.

If this number of refugees were residing in a wealthy part of our country like California that is rich in resources, it would be an enormous strain.

Patty Stonesifer's leadership and experience in the corporate sector, coupled with her committed philanthropic work, helped the Smithsonian secure major grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create an endowment to expand youth…

Mr. Sant was appointed to the Smithsonian Board of Regents on October 24, 2001. He served as chair of the Executive Committee and the Board during the Smithsonian's governance reform efforts. As a leader in the energy field and a committed…

Since the early 1980s, Congress has provided legislative authority for Supreme Court Police to protect Supreme Court Justices, their employees, and guests when they leave the Supreme Court grounds. That authority is set to expire at the…

I realize the Presiding Officer is not allowed to respond, but I want to add my words to those of the distinguished Senator from Colorado that I am delighted to see the Senator in the Chair. Again, as I did the other day, I welcome him to…

Is our country safer because you cannot answer the question?

If we do not enact meaningful reforms, it is going to affect businesses, too, is it not?

I recently introduced a comprehensive surveillance reform bill--it is bipartisan--the USA Freedom Act.

Without greater transparency, we are not going to restore public confidence.

I am worried about overclassification. I find oftentimes--and every administration has been guilty of this--it is easier to classify a mistake rather than trying to explain it.

I think more and more people agree or should agree that we need additional transparency about our government surveillance activities.

My bill would not even require anything near this level of reporting.

I am going to weigh that feedback very carefully.

That is why I urge support for the Franken-Heller legislation before this Subcommittee today.

I joined Senator Franken to introduce the Surveillance Transparency Act of 2013.

One of my biggest concerns about Section 215 phone records is that the legal rationale underpinning it has no limiting principle.

I believe that the bulk collection program mostly authorized under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act should come to an end.

The very first Justice of the Supreme Court I got to vote on as a Member of the U.S. Senate was John Paul Stevens.