Patrick Leahy

I take my responsibilities to do oversight seriously, so it is extremely frustrating that the questions I have asked of this administration and of this Secretary have gone unanswered.

I want the pathway to be clear. I want the goal of citizenship to be available and attainable.

I think the President should be commended for making comprehensive immigration reform a top priority.

I agree with his call for real reforms that will not only address our undocumented population, but will improve legal immigration.

It is time to proceed to comprehensive action to bring families out of the shadows.

The time to fix it is long overdue, and the way to fix it is with common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform.

Our immigration system is not working.

I hope that the people, whether they are for or against the position that I or others might take, I hope they do not think they are going to really help their cause by doing this.

Few topics are more fundamental to who and what we are as a Nation.

Normally I would call it up, but I understand Senator Grassley is almost here. As a matter of courtesy, I will not call it up; but if there is going to be a delay, because people are expecting this 4 o'clock vote--

I wonder if the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire would yield to me for a moment.

I have enjoyed working with the senior Senator from Idaho. If he wants more time--

I think what we are trying to do--and I hope people realize--on this committee is trying to write laws that protect the public.

The current system works well. But there are some glaring holes.

Why should someone going to a gun show have a different rule? There is no logic to it.

No loopholes anywhere for anyone.

I was told yesterday that sometime in the next couple weeks we will have it on the floor of the Senate for a vote.

I think we can get bipartisan agreement on a bill that solves these problems.

Universal background checks is a proven, effective step we can take to reduce gun violence.

The law right now is a failure the way it is working.

We have statistics that show women in this country are killed at an alarming rate by domestic abusers with guns.

If we want to keep firearms away from domestic abusers who are not supposed to have them anyway, we have to improve the background check system.

The Constitution for 225 years has established a Government that is a servant of the people, not the master.

Americans are looking to us for solutions and for action.

I cannot accept the President's claim that 'there will be politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical all out assault on liberty, not because that is true but because they want to gin up fear.'