Majority News Releases
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Leahy Statement On The Continuing Resolution
The substitute amendment before us is identical to H.R. 5305, the House-passed continuing resolution, except that the provision raising the debt ceiling has been removed. This stop-gap measure will keep the government funded through December 3rd. It provides $28 billion to help states ravaged by hurricanes and wildfires. And it provides critical assistance to Afghan refugees who have fled the Taliban in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. I urge all members to vote for it. Bu… Continue Reading
09.27.21
Statement of Chairman Leahy Objecting to Unanimous Consent To Take Up And Pass The Republican Substitute For The FY 2022 Continuing Resolution
I rise to object. The substitute offered by my friend and the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Shelby, does not solve the problem in front of us. It fails to address the looming debt crisis facing our nation, choosing instead to pretend it doesn't exist. While my colleagues on the other side of the aisle may want to wash their hands of this, they cannot. Much of this debt was incurred under a Republican President, and under a Republican controlled-Senate. Debt rack… Continue Reading
09.27.21
Appropriations Committee Chairman Leahy Statement On The Continuing Resolution And The National Debt
Today the Senate will hold a vote to allow for the consideration of a temporary stop-gap measure to keep the government funded through December 3rd. The measure also provides $28 billion to help states ravaged by hurricanes and wildfires, like Hurricane Ida that recently tore through the south and the northeast. It provides critical assistance to Afghan refugees who have fled the Taliban in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Finally, it will raise the debt ceiling through Dece… Continue Reading
09.21.21
Leahy Statement On H.R. 5304, The Extending Government Funding And Delivering Emergency Assistance Act
I support the continuing resolution introduced today by my friend and colleague, House Appropriations Committee Chair DeLauro. This bill will keep the government funded through December 3rd while we continue to work on the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bills. It also includes critical relief for those impacted by the devastating hurricanes that have destroyed communities along the Gulf Coast and in the northeast, as well as for communities ravaged by wildfires and other natural disasters. … Continue Reading
08.04.21
Leahy Holds First Markups As Chair Of Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON (Wednesday, August 4, 2021) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday held the first markups of the Senate Appropriations Committee as Chairman, advancing the Agriculture, Energy and Water, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills through the Committee with strong bipartisan support. Leahy said: "These bills make important investments in mitigating the climate crisis, our veterans, and our farmers. I'm also glad to announce that we have in… Continue Reading
08.04.21
Chairman Leahy Opening Statement at the E&W, Agriculture, and MilCon VA Markup
I am glad to be here at the first markup of the Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year 2022. Today we will consider three Appropriations bills: the Energy &Water Development bill; the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill; and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill. Typically at the first mark up of a fiscal year, the Chairman would bring a recommended allocation for each of the 12 appropriations bills b… Continue Reading
08.04.21
SUMMARY: Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, And Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Committee provided $124.4 billion in discretionary funding for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Activities, $11.2 billion more than fiscal year 2021 and $1.1 billion more than the President's budget request. Additionally, the bill includes $155.4 billion in mandatory funding for VA to provide disability compensation and education benefit payments to veterans. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chair of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and … Continue Reading
08.04.21
SUMMARY: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Washington, D.C. - The fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration provides discretionary funding of $25.855 billion, which is an increase of $2.5 billion over fiscal year 2021 enacted levels. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, said: "This bipartisan legislation is the product of Democrats and Republicans working together to… Continue Reading
08.04.21
SUMMARY: Energy and Water and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Energy and Water Development fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill totals $53.625 billion in discretionary budget authority, $1.873 billion more than fiscal year 2021 and equal to the President's request. The bill provides $10.662 billion to improve the nation's water infrastructure, which includes a record level of funding for the Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works program at $8.7 billion, an increase of $906 million over fiscal year 2021. Funding for the Corps will be … Continue Reading
08.02.21
SUMMARY: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022
Washington, D.C. - The fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration provides discretionary funding of $25.855 billion, which is an increase of $2.5 billion over fiscal year 2021 enacted levels. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, said: "This bipartisan legislation is the product of Democrats and Republicans working together to… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Leahy Statement on the Bipartisan Senate Security Supplemental
I rise on the Senate Floor today to urge that the Senate take up and pass H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, with an amendment at the desk. The amendment is the result of bipartisan compromise between myself and Vice Chairman Shelby, and I want to thank him for his hard work and his friendship. This $2.1 billion dollar package is designed to address the aftermath of the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, heal the remaining scars of the C… Continue Reading
07.27.21
Leahy Announces Bipartisan Agreement On Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON (Tuesday, July 27, 2021) - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced a $2.1 billion bipartisan agreement on an emergency security supplemental to address the fallout of the January 6 insurrection, the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, and expenses incurred on the Capitol complex as a result of the COVID pandemic. Leahy said: "We have the responsibility to take care of the Capitol Police in the wake of their incredible service on J… Continue Reading
07.12.21
Leahy Introduces Emergency Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON (Monday, July 12, 2021) - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday introduced a comprehensive emergency security supplemental to address the urgent security needs facing the Capitol and the country. The $3.7 billion bill would address the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, provide funding for costs incurred on the Capitol complex and the Department of Defense related to the COVID pandemic, and provide the resources to support our Afghan pa… Continue Reading
07.12.21
Chairman Leahy Statement on the Introduction of the Senate Security Supplemental
I rise on the Senate Floor yet again to urge that the Senate take up and pass an emergency supplemental to deal with the fallout from the violent insurrection that took place at the seat of our Democracy on January 6th. I have been making this call for two months now and am sad to say that I am beginning to feel like a broken record. Just days before this chamber left for the July 4th recess I sounded the alarm that time was running out. This remains true today. The Senate only has a few wee… Continue Reading
07.09.21
Statement of Senate Appropriations Chairman Leahy On The Security Supplemental
It is urgent that Congress pass a security supplemental to address the needs of the National Guard and the Capitol Police resulting from the fallout of the January 6 insurrection. As I have warned, if we do not act, Capitol Police projects they will deplete salaries funds sometime in August, and they already exceeded their projected overtime because of activities resulting from January 6th in late June. The National Guard will also be forced to cut training sometime in August as well. It has… Continue Reading
06.24.21
Chairman Leahy Statement On The Increasing Urgency Of Bipartisan Negotiations On The Security Supplemental Appropriations Bill
It was 169 days ago that the world witnessed a violent insurrection take place in the seat of American democracy. The memory of rioters in combat gear, armed with zip ties, smashing in the windows of the Capitol Building is seared into the American consciousness. The images of the National Guard patrolling the Capitol grounds behind fences topped with barbed wire will fill the pages of text books on American history for generations. We did not budget for an insurrection, and the path of dest… Continue Reading
06.21.21
Leahy Calls For Bipartisan Negotiations On Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON (Monday, June 21, 2021) - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday called on Senate Republicans to join bipartisan negotiations on the Security Supplemental to address the fallout from the January 6 insurrection. It has been 166 days since the January 6 attack, and 32 days since the House passed an emergency supplemental. Without Senate action, the Capitol Police will run out of funding sometime in August. And without Senate action, the National Guard, w… Continue Reading
06.17.21
Statement of Chairman Leahy at the hearing to review of the FY22 Department of Defense Budget Request
Today, we welcome testimony from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley in support of the President's budget request for the Department of Defense. The budget request totals $715 billion for the Department of Defense, which is a 1.6 percent increase over fiscal year 2021. The budget includes important investments to deter our adversaries; support for our military and civilian personnel and their families; funds to combat the ongoing pand… Continue Reading
06.15.21
Statement of Chairman Leahy On the GAO Decision on the Pause of Border Barrier Construction Obligations
Today's announcement by the GAO is a welcome one. As the ruling made clear, a review of the environmental havoc wrought by former President Trump's vanity wall, and taking the time to actually consult with the various stake holders, including landowners whose land was being seized, is legal and permitted by law. President Trump's approach to the wall at the Southern Border was at best a bumper sticker approach to a serious policy issue, and it should be reviewed to ensure that American taxpaye… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Opening Remarks of Chairman Leahy on the Appropriations Hearing on the FY 2022 State Department Budget Request
Welcome Secretary Blinken. I will begin by making my opening statement. I understand Vice Chairman Shelby will defer to Senator Graham, Ranking Member on the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee for his opening statement. Then I will turn to Senator Coons, our new Chairman of the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee, for his opening statement. Mr. Secretary, this Committee funds every aspect of the State Department's operations and programs. You cannot turn the lights on, or power your … Continue Reading