Majority News Releases
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, On President Trump’s Decision To End U.S. Funding For UNFPA
[Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Department of State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Tuesday issued the following comment on President Trump's determination under "Kemp-Kasten" to end U.S. contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).] "President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. funding for UNFPA not only will backfire; it is based on a false narrative. The law that President Trump invoked was written t… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Sen. Leahy's Opening Statement at State Dept. and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Hearing On Civil Society Perspectives On Russia
Mr. Chairman, I want to make one observation before we begin, which is that for the past month or two our staffs have been working daily with their House counterparts to finalize our Fiscal Year 2017 bill. They are on track to resolving all but the most contentious issues this week. Then late last Friday we learned that the White House may be proposing a $2.8 billion cut to our 2017 allocation, as part of an $18 billion transfer of funding for non-defense operations and programs to the Pentago… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Vice Chairman Leahy Statement On The Defense Appropriations Sub Committee Hearing: “A Review Of The Budget And Readiness Of The Department Of Defense”
Thank you, Chairman Cochran and Ranking Member Durbin, for holding this important hearing to review the budget and readiness of the Department of Defense. The 2017 supplemental that President Trump has proposed for the Department of Defense would exceed the spending caps for defense set in the Budget Control Act, triggering sequestration and across-the-board cuts for the Department of Defense, in just 10 weeks, if the law is not changed. I believe all Members of this Subcommittee should work c… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Statement Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On President Trump’s “Skinny Budget” Proposal
Last Thursday the Trump Administration submitted his first "Budget Blueprint" to Congress. He called it "America First, A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again." This title would be laughable if the topic were not so serious. Like some of the President's tweets, his budget is a hasty list of appallingly unbalanced, shortsighted, politically driven priorities. He proposes to eliminate or drastically cut programs that benefit the middle class and safeguard our most vulnerable citizens,… Continue Reading
03.16.17
Statement Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On President Trump’s “Skinny Budget” Proposal
The Trump budget shows as much foresight as TrumpCare. Like some of the President's tweets, the Trump budget is a hasty list of appallingly unbalanced, shortsighted, politically driven priorities. We cannot make America "Great Again" at the expense of middle class families and the most vulnerable among us, and you do not make America "stronger" by eliminating the very programs that make our nation more secure. The President's proposal would abandon months of bipartisan negotiations, and break… Continue Reading
03.13.17
Ahead Of Trump Administration Budget Proposal, Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Leahy Releases Letter To Senate Budget Committee Warning Of Devastating Consequences
In the five years since the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), discretionary programs have been slashed by $2 trillion under post-sequestration budget cuts. The resulting cuts have taken their toll on everything from the readiness of U.S. armed forces, to millions of families not receiving heating assistance, and drastic cuts to federal investment in job training and employment programs. In Fiscal Year 2018, post-sequestration budget caps are set to return under the BCA, which … Continue Reading
03.09.17
Leahy Statement On The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
[WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, March 9, 2017) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday issued the following statement on the American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card, which was released this week. In January, Leahy joined other leading Senate Democrats in introducing the Blueprint to Rebuild America's Infrastructure. This week, Leahy also spoke in support of a comprehensive infrastructure plan at the Appropriations Subcommittee On Transportation, Housing And… Continue Reading
03.08.17
Leahy Statement On Appropriations Subcommittee On Labor, Health and Human Services Hearing: “Saving Lives Through Medical Research”
I want to thank Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray for holding this important hearing to discuss the importance of medical research in saving lives. Medical research holds tremendous promise and is responsible for breakthroughs with diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. Federal research dollars provide the nation's top professions with the resources they need to continue expanding medical knowledge. The tireless devotion of researchers to finding cures has served as a catalyst for nati… Continue Reading
03.08.17
Leahy Statement On Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing: "Investing in America: Funding our Nation’s Transportation Infrastructure Needs"
The infrastructure needs of every community are unique, yet we all share similar stories of our crumbling roads and bridges, and we contemplate high speed rail and hope for improved airport systems. I, like many, am tired of talking about our withering infrastructure systems and Congress doing nothing, especially when we have the power to improve them. It was not all that long ago when transportation and infrastructure investments were bipartisan efforts. Since that time, small, intransigent… Continue Reading
03.06.17
Remarks Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy On The 150th Anniversary of the Appropriations Committee
Today, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Established on March 6, 1867, its powers are rooted in Article 1, section 9 of our Constitution which states, "No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law." The founders of our country recognized the power of the purse as one of the most important tools Congress has to ensure our system of checks and balances, and to conduct oversight of the Executive and Judicial B… Continue Reading
03.03.17
SUMMARY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FISCAL YEAR 2017 APPROPRIATIONS BILL
WASHINGTON—The Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act, 2017 provides $577.9 billion in base and Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) funding, compared to $572.8 billion enacted in fiscal year 2016 and $576.5 billion in the President’s budget request. The base budget appropriation is $516 billion, with $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations of the Department of Defense.
Continue Reading03.02.17
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman, On The FY 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill
[WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, March 2, 2017) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday issued the following statement on the FY 2017 Defense Appropriations bill. The House of Representatives is expected to debate the FY 2017 Defense Appropriations bill next week. The bill is the result of the work of Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate and is consistent with the discretionary spending caps in the Bipartisan Budget Act.] "It's constructive that t… Continue Reading
03.01.17
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman Of The Appropriations Committee, To Reports That President Trump’s Budget Will Include A 37 Percent Cut To State Department Operations And Other Foreign Assistance Programs
"I hope the American people, particularly those who voted for President Trump, will come to understand the likely impacts of the budget cuts he is proposing for 2018. A President who claims to care about them and who promises to 'make America great again' would harm our country and our economy by slashing resources for the very programs that enable the United States to project the leadership on which the physical and economic security of the American people depend. "The protection of our emb… Continue Reading
02.27.17
Leahy Statement On President Trump’s 2018 Budget Outline
[WASHINGTON (MONDAY, Feb. 27, 2017) - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday released the following statement on President Trump's 2018 Budget Outline. Leahy is also the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department and Foreign Operations.] The budget outline that President Trump intends to send to Congress is not a blueprint for success for a great nation. Instead it is a hasty list of appallingly unbalanced, shortsighted, pol… Continue Reading
02.16.17
Leahy Opposes Nomination Of Mick Mulvaney To Be OMB Director
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2016) -- Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday voted against the nomination of Representative Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to serve as the federal government's top budget manager as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In a statement Leahy said: "Mr. Mulvaney has a troubling history when it comes to standing up in support of the programs that many of us care deeply about. He prioritizes budget cuts over the… Continue Reading
01.24.17
Cochran, Leahy Announce Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairmen and Membership Rosters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today announced subcommittee chairmen, ranking members and membership rosters for the 115th Congress.
Continue Reading01.17.17
LEAHY STATEMENT ON SECOND U.S. CONTRIBUTION OF $500 MILLION TO THE GREEN CLIMATE FUND
WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations, reaction to the State Department announcement of the second U.S. contribution of $500 million to the green climate fund: "I commend the Administration for making this contribution, which has bipartisan support in the Senate. It will help give us a 'seat at the table' in future climat… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Leahy Announces Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Members
WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017) – U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the subcommittee ranking members for the 115th Congress.
Leahy said: “The Appropriations Committee has a challenging year ahead. We must finish the work of the 114th Congress and pass the remaining fiscal year 2017 bills, while simultaneously preparing to address the needs of the next. Appropriations bills are where policy debates meet fiscal realities. Appropriations bills are where we set annual priorities. I am delighted that we will have this skilled and experienced team to meet this challenge and work together, and across the aisle, as we work to produce fiscally responsible appropriations bills that meet the needs of Americans through next year’s appropriations bills.”
Continue Reading01.06.17
Ranking Member Leahy Statement on Reports That PEOTUS Trump Will Ask Congress to Pay for Border Wall
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement in response to reports that President-elect Trump will ask Congress to pay for the border wall:
Continue Reading01.04.17
Leahy Names Two Aides To Be His Staff Director, And Chief Counsel/Deputy Staff Director, On The Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2016) – Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday named two skilled and seasoned staff experts who will serve as top aides as he assumes the post of the Democratic leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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