Majority News Releases
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Statement On A Continuing Resolution Through December 22, 2017
The current spending caps set in place by law will not responsibly fund the government or alleviate the consequences of sequestration on our domestic priorities or our military readiness. Since March, I have constantly repeated that we must reach a bipartisan budget deal that is based on parity, free of poison pill riders and not waste taxpayer dollars on President Trump's useless border wall. But with the current continuing resolution expiring tomorrow, we are running out of time to reach an a… Continue Reading
12.05.17
Appropriations Vice Chairman Leahy Statement At Subcommittee Hearing On Addressing The Opioid Crisis In America: Prevention, Treatment & Recovery
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Here's a startling statistic: last year alone, drug overdoses claimed the lives of 64,000 people. This is the latest figure in a shocking rise in overdose deaths, driven by the opioid epidemic that has hit every corner of our country, and plagues every community. This is a public health crisis. We need to start treating it like one. We need to allocate every necessary resource to finally - and meaningfully - confront it. Vermont has made tremendous strides by l… Continue Reading
11.21.17
Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Leahy Calls On Congress For Bipartisan Budget Deal
WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2017) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday renewed his call for a bipartisan budget deal that would allow for real investments in the American people. Leahy said: "With just 17 days until the current continuing resolution expires and the threat of sequestration looming in January, our toughest path remains ahead. We must come together to reach a bipartisan budget deal that allows for an increase in both defense AND non-defe… Continue Reading
11.21.17
DURBIN, LEAHY STATEMENT ON FY18 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN’S MARK
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the release of the Fiscal Year 2018 Defense Appropriations Act. The bill exceeds President Trump's request by $15.3 billion, and exceeds the sequestration caps by $70 billion. This is a step forward, though we remain deeply concerned about the process. So befo… Continue Reading
11.21.17
Leahy Slams Border Wall Funding As “Bumper Sticker Budgeting”
WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2017) - Slamming the proposal as "bumper sticker budgeting," Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday focused on a provision in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would provide $1.6 billion from American taxpayers for President Trump's border wall with Mexico. Leahy said: "This is bumper sticker budgeting to save face for one of President Trump's failed campaign promises. Instead of wasting billions of… Continue Reading
11.21.17
SUMMARY: FY 2018 Department Of Homeland Security Chairman's Mark Released
Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017) - The Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday made public the Chairman's Mark of the fiscal year 2018 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The bill provides a total discretionary appropriation of $51.565 billion. The net discretionary total is $44.050 billion after the following amounts are excluded: $559 million in emergency appropriations for disaster relief; cap adjustment funding of $6.793 billion for disaster relief; and $163 milli… Continue Reading
11.20.17
SUMMARY: FY2018 Financial Services & General Government Appropriations Chairman's Mark Released
WASHINGTON (Monday, November 20, 2017) - Today the Senate Appropriations Committee made public the Chairman's Mark of the fiscal year 2018 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill. The bill provides a total of $21.035 billion, including $159 million in disaster funds. This funding level is $480 million less than the fiscal year 2017 enacted level and nearly $2 billion less than the fiscal year 2018 President's request. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ranking Me… Continue Reading
11.20.17
SUMMARY: FY2018 Interior, Environment Appropriations Chairman's Mark Released
WASHINGTON (Monday, November 20, 2017) - The Senate Appropriations Committee Monday made public the Chairman's Mark for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations Bill. The Senate bill recommends $32.536 billion in discretionary funding for agencies funded by the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill, which includes $32.030 billion in discretionary funds and $507 million in emergency funds to pay for wildland firefighting needs. Excluding emerge… Continue Reading
11.17.17
Appropriations Vice Chairman Leahy REAX To Third Emergency Supplemental Request --
[WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Nov. 17, 2017) -- Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday issued the following statement on the Trump Administration's emergency supplemental request, totaling $44 billion, to address recent natural disasters. Earlier this month, Leahy and Senator Schumer led a letter outlining what Senate Democrats believe should be contained in the supplemental request.] The Trump Administration's request does not come close to meeting the needs of vic… Continue Reading
11.15.17
Appropriations Vice Chairman Leahy Statement At Hearing On VA Efforts To Prevent And Combat Opioid Over Medication
The opioid epidemic has reached every state - every community - in the country. It is impacting sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends and coworkers. And it is impacting our veterans and servicemembers. We have for over 16 years of war asked members of the active and reserve components to serve an unprecedented numbers of deployments, leaving too many veterans broken and in pain. When we needed these brave men and women to return to battle, it was too easy to prescribe opioids for … Continue Reading
11.06.17
Schumer, Leahy Lead Senate Democrats In Calling For Comprehensive Disaster Relief
WASHINGTON (Monday, Nov. 6, 2017) - Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday lead Senate Democrats in calling on the Trump administration to put forward a comprehensive package to provide relief from the onslaught of natural disasters in recent months. The administration has committed to releasing such a package in the coming weeks. In a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Senat… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Vice Chairman Leahy's Statement On the President’s Announcement On The Opioid Epidemic
It is far past time for the administration to acknowledge that the opioid crisis is a national emergency that affects every community across the country. This is a scourge that does not discriminate between rich and poor, or Republicans and Democrats, or urban areas and rural ones. But the President's talk is just that - talk. There is no action or new funding behind the President's empty words to address this crisis. This is not acceptable. The Republicans voted TODAY in the House of Repre… Continue Reading
10.26.17
A REALITY CHECK ON THE PRESIDENT’S OPIOID ANNOUNCEMENT
A Reality Check On The President's Opioid AnnouncementWhite House's Tough Talk On The Opioid Crisis Crumbles As New 'Plan' Offers No New Resources, While Congressional Republicans Act To Slash Medicaid By $1 Trillion President Trump's long awaited declaration on the nationwide opioids crisis is nothing more than symbolic talk. There is no action or new funding behind the President's empty words to address this crisis. This is unacceptable. It is far past time for the administration to ackno… Continue Reading
10.24.17
Senate Passes Second Emergency Disaster Supplemental
WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017) - The Senate Tuesday passed a second emergency funding measure to support recovery efforts from recent disasters by a vote of 82 to 17. The $36.5 billion emergency supplemental contains $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, $16 billion for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) debt forgiveness, $1.27 billion for nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico, and $576.5 million to combat wildfires. The Trump admin… Continue Reading
10.24.17
SUMMARY: Disaster Supplemental Appropriations
In response to recent natural disasters that have depleted emergency resources, the Disaster Supplemental contains $36.5 billion in emergency appropriations to support relief efforts from the recent hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. The supplemental previously passed the House by a vote of 353-69. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said: "I support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. If we do not act, the Disaster… Continue Reading
10.23.17
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