Patrick Leahy in Survey of 2021 Senate campaign websites
On Crime:
Worked to reverse some of mandatory minimum sentences
Leahy often points to his service as Chittenden County State's Attorney as his guidepost for his legislative initiatives on the Judiciary Committee. He champions the needs of crime and domestic violence victims. He co-authored the Bulletproof
Vest grant program which has helped purchase 4,400 life-saving vests for local law enforcement officers throughout Vermont since 1999. He supports state and local law enforcement through Community Oriented Policing Services and Homeland Security grants.
Leahy knows the criminal sentencing system needs repair to restore fairness and reduce overcrowding in prisons. He joined a group of bipartisan senators on sentencing reform legislation that will reverse
some of the misguided mandatory minimums passed during the "War on Drugs" in the 1980s and 1990s.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
On Environment:
Opposed drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
He is one of the Senate's leading advocates of forest conservation, clean water and clean air policies, and sound environmental stewardship. He opposed the Keystone pipeline, has fought Republican efforts to open the pristine Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, and has supported efforts to drill in the Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge in Vermont. He has worked to protect and enlarge the Green Mountain National Forest.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
On Government Reform:
Citizens United decision strikes at core of our democracy
Leahy has called the Citizens United decision a strike at the core of our democracy with few other decisions having such a negative impact on our political process. As Chair of the Judiciary Committee, he led the debate for a Constitutional Amendment to
rein in the influence of billionaires and make clear that corporations are not people, and worked to protect the voting rights of individual Americans. Leahy authored the Voting Rights Advancement Act and champions the fundamental right to vote.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
On Technology:
First senator with a blog; second to have internet homepage
Leahy was the second senator to post an official homepage on the internet and the first to start a blog. Since its creation in 1995, the Leahy Senate website--and his use of his social media sites -- have often won awards as one of the Senate's best.
His interest in technology also led him to co-found the Congressional Internet Caucus, which he co-chairs, and to spearhead efforts to expand broadband access to Vermont.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
On Technology:
Inducted into FOIA "Hall of Fame" for defending law
He was inducted into the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) "Hall of Fame" for his leadership to promote government transparency and defending the law from repeated efforts to weaken it. The bipartisan USA Freedom Act that he authored ended the
NSA bulk monitoring program. His Electronic Consumer Privacy Act (ECPA) reauthorization would require law enforcement agencies to need warrants to access Americans' email. Senator Leahy stood firm to insist on adding sunset provisions to the Patriot Act.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
On War & Peace:
Wrote first law banning export of anti-personnel landmines
He has long been a leader in the campaign to ban anti-personnel landmines writing the world's first law to ban the export of these indiscriminate weapons. He led congressional efforts to create ongoing practical support through a program
his colleagues later renamed The Leahy War Victims Fund, which provides up to $12 million a year for humanitarian work in clinics in war-torn countries across the globe.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
Page last updated: Nov 17, 2021