Patrick Leahy

The country is at risk, and there is much work to be done to better protect critical infrastructure and improve our ability to stop computer crime.

We take cyber crime as a serious offense.

I think we would be happy to work with the Committee under your leadership to try to find a way to address those concerns.

I have always been proud of you and I am glad that you are willing to take on this job.

You helped Vermont dairy farmers find consensus across the nationwide industry in which consensus is like transporting bullfrogs in a wheelbarrow.

He has earned the respect of members from both parties and from all regions of the country.

I do not think the President or Secretary Vilsack could have selected a more qualified and practiced professional to help lead the Department of Agriculture's Office of Congressional Relations than Brian.

I hope my good friend and former colleague, John Bellinger, would agree with me that the Avena decision was incorrectly decided.

We cannot possibly tweak and adjust the Constitution without going through the process of a constitutional amendment.

We are technically in violation of our obligations under Article 94.

We have a problem only with the Avena decision, and even so we have a range of possibilities for dealing with this problem.

This is not just a matter of fundamental principles. These limitations are plain and well described in Supreme Court case law.

If a statute like S. 1194 can be constitutionally enacted and upheld, there would be no remaining area... in which the States would retain their autonomy.

The treaty power should not be, and cannot be, an exception to these fundamental constitutional principles of dual sovereignty and separation of powers.

In my view, bending these rules and principles of federalism is not just a bad policy decision, but would compromise the liberty of all Americans.

We need this legislation urgently to protect Americans abroad, to preserve vital bilateral relationships, and to maintain our reputation as a Nation that keeps its word.

In this increasingly interdependent world, the United States simply cannot afford to have our partners at the negotiating table question our commitment to the rule of law.

Our ongoing failure to respect the Vienna Convention has placed great strains on U.S. relations with Mexico.

If we fail to honor our consular obligations at home, American citizens, including your constituents, pay the price overseas.

I supported President George W. Bush in that regard.

The Constitution, Federal laws, and treaties to be treated as 'the supreme Law of the Land.'

Treaties ratified by the United States are the law of the land and, like any law, must be honored.

We have a group of British parliamentarians meeting with us. I see the distinguished Republican leader on the floor. Senator Cochran and I are leading a delegation to meet with them, and I am about to ask to put the Senate in recess…

This has been a worthwhile hearing. You will get transcripts of what you said.

Thank you. I am thinking we have three former prosecutors sitting here at the dais now, and that is one of the things that has kept us here.