Majority News Releases
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Vice Chairman Of The Senate Appropriations Committee On Emergency Supplemental Appropriations For Recent Disasters
No one in this chamber is immune from disaster. Six years ago, Marcelle and I watched with great alarm as communities around Vermont felt the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Irene. That storm washed away entire communities in our state, tearing down homes, local landmarks and bridges alike. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, from across the country, stood by Vermont's side then to help us rebuild. Because that is who we are as Americans. We lift each other up in times of disaste… Continue Reading
10.20.17
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Meets With Governor Of Puerto Rico Ahead Of Senate Consideration Of Emergency Funding
WASHINGTON (Friday, Oct. 20, 2017) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) late Thursday met with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, ahead of Senate consideration of emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to recent natural disasters. Leahy said: "As a Vermonter, a Senator and the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I assured Governor Rosselló that we stand with the people of Puerto Rico. The path to recovery … Continue Reading
10.12.17
Leahy Statement On Disaster Supplemental
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Thursday released the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives passage of emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to recent natural disasters: "The House has taken an important step in providing relief to millions of United States citizens from recent disasters. But this is just a step. From the wildfires burning in California to the storms that crashed against Puerto Rico, 12 major d… Continue Reading
10.05.17
Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Statement On Second Disaster Supplemental Request
[Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday released a statement on the Trump administration's request for new emergency supplemental funding to address recent natural disasters. The request totals $29.4 billion for emergency disaster relief, flood insurance assistance, and to replenish federal firefighting accounts.] "I am glad the administration is taking the next step in providing relief to those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and the wildfires that h… Continue Reading
09.26.17
Statement of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Devastation To Puerto Rico And The U.S. Virgin Islands
After Tropical Storm Irene tore through Vermont, people from across the country, Republicans and Democrats, stood by our side to help rebuild. Today, Marcelle and I stand with the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which have been decimated from the double blow of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the victims of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. President Trump must act quickly to put the full force of the United States government behind recovery efforts on the islands using the $15 bil… Continue Reading
09.14.17
Appropriations Vice Chairman Leahy Statement On The House Passage Of An Omnibus Appropriations Bill
What the House passed today does not bring us any closer to responsibly funding the government, and it will not pass the Senate. It wastes billions of taxpayer dollars on a useless border wall, which the President promised that Mexico would pay for, and contains poison-pill riders that have no place in the appropriations process. Its proposed increase for defense spending is a lie to the American people that would shatter the budget caps set in place by the Budget Control Act. This would dire… Continue Reading
09.07.17
Leahy Supports, And Senate Passes, Emergency Relief For Victims Of Hurricane Harvey
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Sept. 7, 2016) - The Senate Thursday passed an emergency funding measure to provide relief for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, by a vote of 80-17. The measure was approved just a day before the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has warned that disaster relief funds would be exhausted. The package also raised the debt ceiling and funded the government through Dec. 8, staving off another Washington-manufactured crisis. Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (… Continue Reading
09.07.17
SUMMARY: Senate Committee Approves FY2018 Labor, HHS Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. (Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017) - The fiscal year 2018 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill provides a total of $166 billion. This figure includes $164.1 billion in discretionary funding as well as $1.896 billion in cap adjustment funding to prevent waste, fraud, abuse and improper payments in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security programs. U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Depa… Continue Reading
09.07.17
SUMMARY: FY2018 SFOPS Appropriations Bill Clears Committee
WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2017) - The bill provides $51.195 billion in discretionary budget authority, including $20.785 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations. The allocation is $10.7 billion above the President's request as scored by CBO, but it is $1.9 billion below the fiscal year 2017 enacted level when factoring in fiscal year 2017 funding for famine relief but not the Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017. U.S. Senator Leahy Ranking Member (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of th… Continue Reading
09.06.17
SUMMARY: FY2018 State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Clears Senate Subcommittee
WASHINGTON (Wednesday, September 6, 2017) - The bill provides $51.195 billion in discretionary budget authority, including $20.785 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations. The allocation is $10.7 billion above the President's request as scored by CBO, but it is $1.9 billion below the fiscal year 2017 enacted level when factoring in fiscal year 2017 funding for famine relief but not the Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017. U.S. Senator Leahy Ranking Member (D-Vt.), Ranking Member o… Continue Reading
09.06.17
Leahy Statement On Harvey Disaster Relief Supplemental
[WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017) - The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, by a vote of 419 to 3, approved $7.4 billion in appropriations for FEMA and $450 million for the Small Business Administration to support continued disaster relief following the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. The bill now moves to the Senate where Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will play a key role in passing it through the chamber.] Marcelle and I have held the people of … Continue Reading
09.06.17
SUMMARY: FY2018 Labor, HHS Appropriations Bill Clears Subcommittee
Washington, D.C. (Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017) - The fiscal year 2018 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill provides a total of $166 billion. This figure includes $164.1 billion in discretionary funding as well as $1.896 billion in cap adjustment funding to prevent waste, fraud, abuse and improper payments in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security programs. U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Dep… Continue Reading
08.23.17
Leahy REAX To Trump Threat To Shut Down Government
(WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2017) - Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday issued the following statement on President Trump's threat to shut down the government if Congress does not agree to forcing American taxpayers to fund a border wall: This is not President Trump's first threat to shut down the United States government over his foolish, costly and useless wall, wasting tens of billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars. A wall the President promised that Mex… Continue Reading
08.01.17
Statement of Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Senate Consideration Of The House “Minibus”
Statement of Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Senate Consideration Of The House "Minibus" This reckless bill would break through the budget caps and waste billions on a misguided and ineffective border wall. Without a bipartisan budget deal lifting the caps, passing this would result in a 13.2 percent sequester on national security programs in just a few months, undermining military readiness. The bill also contains poison pill riders that erode clean water protections and slashes energy … Continue Reading
07.27.17
Leahy Scores Public ‘Right To Know’ Win, To Open Access To Taxpayer-Funded Congressional Research Reports
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, July 26, 2017) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday advanced legislation in the Senate Appropriations Committee to make all non-confidential reports prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) - Congress's research arm - freely available to the public, schools and libraries across the country. A legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS issues or updates more than 3000 reports each year on topics ranging from the structure of government a… Continue Reading
07.27.17
SUMMARY: Committee Approves FY18 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017) - The fiscal year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Senate Appropriations bill provides a total of $60.058 billion in discretionary budget authority - $2.41 billion more than in fiscal year 2017 and $12.130 billion more than the President's budget request. Additional resources are provided to prevent and end homelessness among veterans and youth, as well as to maintain existing rental housing assistance for nearly… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Committee Republicans Reject Democratic-Led Investments In The American People For Third Week In A Row
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, July 27, 2017) - Senate Appropriations Committee Republicans Thursday rejected amendments offered by Committee Democrats that would have improved public safety, bolstered economic development and invested in our nation's infrastructure. The party-line opposition marks the third week in a row Republicans have blocked the Democrats efforts to invest in the American people by increasing both defense and non-defense spending constrained under the Budget Control Act. Offered b… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Vice Chairman Leahy Statement On FY '18 CJS, THUD and Legislative Branch Appropriations Bills
Today we mark up three appropriations bills, the fiscal year 2018 Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies bill, the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies bill, and the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. I want to thank Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Shaheen for their hard work on the CJS bill. This bill represents a truly bipartisan process, making the most out of a tight allocation to fund law enforcement, invest in science, and support eco… Continue Reading
07.27.17
SUMMARY: Committee Approves FY18 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, July 27, 2017) - The fiscal year 2018 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill provides $3.171 billion in discretionary budget authority, excluding items pertaining solely to the House, which total an additional $1.319 billion. Total funding accommodated in the bill is $4.490 billion, which is $50 million more than the fiscal 2017 enacted level and $192 million less than budget request. The bill provides critical increases for the Congressional Budget Office, the Government… Continue Reading
07.27.17
SUMMARY: Committee Approves FY2018 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, July 27, 2017) - The fiscal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill provides a total of $53.4 billion in discretionary funding, $3.2 billion less than fiscal year 2017 and $4.4 billion more than the President's request. The CJS bill invests in a wide range of critical programs that affect the lives of all Americans. The bill provides $29.1 billion, $121 million more than fiscal year 2017 and $740 million more than the Presiden… Continue Reading