I want to recognize and commend Colonel Thomas L'Esperance for his noteworthy career with the Vermont State Police, which will conclude next month with his retirement. One of the strongest voices in Vermont law enforcement for the past 28…

last month, the Supreme Court took a significant step towards a more perfect union when it ruled that every American has the right to marry the person they love and have that lawful marriage recognized. It was a victory for love and…

Vermonters--like many Americans--are frustrated. They are frustrated when they see short-term patches that do not make investments in our crumbling infrastructure. They are frustrated with seeing meaningful policy advance, while Congress…

although we are still a year and a half from the next presidential election, our perpetual campaign cycle already seems to be in full swing. Among the many troubling trends we are seeing is the rise of ``independent'' super PACs that…

I applaud the Senate is passing bipartisan legislation that will protect employees who blow the whistle on criminal antitrust violations. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act is legislation that I have worked on with Senator…

I wish to take a moment to recognize Brendan J. ``Bren'' Whittaker, a distinguished public servant and recognized leader in conservation efforts in the New England Northern Forest region. In addition to his conservation work, Bren spent…

I would like to call the Senate's attention to the continued First Amendment advocacy of a Vermont journalist, Mike Donoghue of the Burlington Free Press. The Vermont Press Association has presented Mike with the prestigious Matthew Lyon…

with the Congress focused on the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement, it is not surprising that recent developments in Guatemala have not received the attention they deserve, either here or in the international press. I want to speak briefly about…

today, the Senate has approved landmark legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Since 2001, the failed policies of No Child Left Behind have unfairly burdened educators and administrators by holding…

I am glad the Senate has turned today to the reauthorization of the programs under the Older Americans Act. For decades, this law has provided community assistance to seniors in underserved and rural areas across the country, but…

today the Senate has passed the bipartisan Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2015, which will extend for another 7 years the anti-trust exemption permitting colleges and universities to collaborate on issues of need-based financial aid. I…

this important debate about how to improve our schools is an opportunity to ensure that children have access to equal educational opportunities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students often face pervasive harassment and bullying…

last week more than 25 million Americans watched the U.S. women's soccer team win for the third time soccer's most coveted title--the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. This thrilling victory was the most…

my dear friend, the senior Senator from Kansas, is going to speak next, but he has graciously allowed me to have the very few minutes I asked for, and then he will be recognized as soon as I give my statement. (The remarks of Mr. Leahy…

If the Senator will yield, it is not a cold. There are a few more pollens in the air that we Vermonters are not used to.

the U.S. Court of Federal Claims has been referred to as the ``keeper of the Nation's conscience'' and ``the people's court.'' This court was created by Congress approximately 160 years ago and embodies the constitutional principle that…

at the end of this year, Congress will say farewell to Dr. James Billington, a dear friend who, for the last 28 years, has dedicated his life to ensuring that the Nation's most prominent library is an unparalleled resource for all who…

I am proud to recognize Aaron Goldberg, Jeffrey Potash and the greater Ohavi Zedek community for their tireless efforts in relocating a treasured artifact in our State's Jewish community. For nearly two decades, the historically…

I would like to take a moment to honor the memory of a longtime journalist and true friend, Norman Runnion, who passed away in a Vermont hospital last month at the age of 85. Norm was many things to many people, but as they say of those in…

today, we are finally, finally going to vote on the nomination of Kara Farnandez Stoll to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She is superbly qualified, and once confirmed, she will be the first…

I wish to take a moment to recognize two distinguished public servants who are leaving their positions at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO,--Margaret ``Peggy'' Focarino, Commissioner for Patents, and James D. Smith, Chief…

earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the PATENT Act with a strong bipartisan vote. As the Senate continues to consider this important, balanced legislation aimed at curbing abusive patent litigation practices, it is…

this year marks the 50th anniversaries of the March from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act. Passage of the Voting Rights Act was the result of the blood, sweat, and tears of so many brave Americans who…

the United States has long been a safe and welcoming home for those fleeing persecution around the world. The refugees and asylum seekers who join our communities help to create new businesses, build more vibrant neighborhoods, and enrich…

last week Egyptian government investigators working on behalf of a judge who is overseeing a 4-year-old case against international and Egyptian nongovernmental organizations, NGOs, visited the main office of the Cairo Institute for Human…