Majority News Releases
Appropriations Committee Chairman Leahy Comment On President Biden’s Budget Proposal
Earlier this month, President Biden laid out his vision for our country at the State of the Union by prioritizing investments in education, health care, growing the workforce, and building our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, not from the top down. He rejected isolationism, and called for rebuilding partnerships with foreign allies and partners and projecting U.S. global leadership consistent with our values. Today's budget is a reflection of those priorities. It makes investment… Continue Reading
03.10.22
Chairman Leahy Statement on the FY 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Earlier this week, and after months of negotiations, the Committees on Appropriations introduced the $1.5 trillion Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This is the consolidation of 12 annual Appropriations bills to fund the Federal Government for the remainder of this Fiscal Year. Last night the House passed it on a bipartisan basis. We need to act on it quickly. Our annual Appropriations bills are where we reflect and act on our national priorities. In total, this bill includes $7… Continue Reading
03.09.22
Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Releases Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON (Wednesday, March 9, 2022) - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday released the $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The omnibus includes a 6.7 percent increase for non-defense discretionary programs, the largest increase in four years. The bill makes significant investments in communities around the country, funds critical programs supporting America's middle class families, protects our nation's veterans, and invests in our… Continue Reading
02.17.22
Statement Of Chairman Leahy On Senate Passage Of The Continuing Resolution
Today, it is imperative that we take up and pass H.R. 6617, the Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act. This bill will keep the federal government funded and fully operating through March 11 while we work out the details of full-year appropriations bills to meet the needs of the American people. In a few moments we will vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the continuing resolution. As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee I strongly urge all members to vote aye.… Continue Reading
02.08.22
Chairman Leahy Comment On The Continuing Resolution
I am glad that the House acted quickly to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government through March 11th, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to take it up and pass it. Over the last several weeks, Chair DeLauro, Vice Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member Granger and I have made real progress on reaching a full year funding agreement. I believe this continuing resolution will provide us with the time we need to finish our bipartisan work while removing the unnecessary threat of gove… Continue Reading
12.15.21
Statement of Chairman Leahy on the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
The Senate will soon have the opportunity to vote on passage of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As they do every year, I am sure Senators are preparing their press releases touting all of the things in this bill they support-a pay raise for the military, increases for medical research, investments to counter Chinese aggression-all things worthy of talking about. But let's be honest with the American people about what we are doing and what we are not. We can al… Continue Reading
12.02.21
Chairman Leahy Statement on the Further Extending Government Funding Act
It is my hope that soon the Senate will vote on a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open and funded through February 18th. I am pleased we reached this agreement. The only thing worse than running the government under a continuing resolution (CR) is a government shutdown. A shutdown only hurts the American people and wastes billions in taxpayer dollars. I am glad that the bill includes critical funding to support Afghan refugees as we help them get resettled here in the United Sta… Continue Reading
12.02.21
Leahy Statement On The Continuing Resolution
I am glad that we have reached a bipartisan agreement to keep the government funded through February 18 that includes needed funding to support Afghan refugees. These brave men and women were our allies through 20 years of war, and we have an obligation to support them as they begin their new lives. Since May, I have called for bipartisan, bicameral negotiations with the White House to establish toplines. On October 18, Senate Democrats released a comprehensive opening offer in an effor… Continue Reading
11.04.21
Chair Leahy on Need To Finish FY 2022 Appropriations Bills and Impact of a Full-Year CR
We are now four weeks into the fiscal year, the federal government is running on auto-pilot, and we only have four more weeks until the government shuts down unless Congress takes action. This is not a theoretical exercise. The actions we take, or don't take, in this Chamber with respect to the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bills affect people's lives and the direction of this nation. These bills provide for our national defense, help educate our nation's children, provide medical care for… Continue Reading
11.02.21
REAX of Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy Following Four Corners Appropriations Meeting
"Republicans seem to want to drive us into a full year continuing resolution. Democrats made a good faith offer last month that provided a 5 percent increase in defense spending, which is consistent with the bipartisan NDAA, but it takes two to negotiate. We still have not received a topline offer in response to ours. An endless cycle of continuing resolutions is not a responsible way to govern. It means cuts to veterans, cuts to national security and defense, handcuffing our response to the… Continue Reading
10.19.21
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Release Of The Nine Remaining Appropriations Bills
Yesterday the Senate Appropriations Committee released nine appropriations bills that allocate important resources to help address the pressing priorities of America's families and communities, and promote U.S. national security. The appropriations bills made public include the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill; the Department of Defense bill; the Financial Services and General Government bill; the Department of Homeland Security bill; the Department of Interior, Environmen… Continue Reading
10.18.21
Chairman Leahy Releases Remaining Nine Senate Appropriations Bills
WASHINGTON (Monday, Oct. 18, 2021) - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday released the remaining nine Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bills. Monday's announcement follows months of Leahy calling for bipartisan, bicameral negotiations with the White House on topline spending and the successful, bipartisan passage of the Energy & Water, Military Construction and Veteran's Affairs, and Agriculture and Rural Development appropriations bills out of the Committee … Continue Reading
09.30.21
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