View source for Patrick Leahy

{{Short description|American politician and attorney (born 1940)}}
{{Other people|Patrick Leahy}}
{{redirect|Senator Leahy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Patrick Leahy
| image               = Patrick Leahy 117th Congress.jpeg
| caption             = Official portrait, {{circa}} 2021
| office              = 44th [[Dean of the United States Senate]]
| term_start          = December 17, 2012
| term_end            = January 3, 2023
| predecessor         = [[Daniel Inouye]]
| successor           = [[Chuck Grassley]]
| jr/sr1              = United States Senator
| state1              = [[Vermont]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 1975
| term_end1           = January 3, 2023
| predecessor1        = [[George Aiken]]
| successor1          = [[Peter Welch]]
| office2             = [[President pro tempore of the United&nbsp;States&nbsp;Senate]]
| term_start2         = January 20, 2021
| term_end2           = January 3, 2023
| predecessor2        = Chuck Grassley
| successor2          = [[Patty Murray]]
| term_start3         = December 17, 2012
| term_end3           = January 3, 2015
| predecessor3        = Daniel Inouye
| successor3          = [[Orrin Hatch]]
| office4             = [[President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate]]
| term_start4         = January 3, 2015
| term_end4           = January 20, 2021
| predecessor4        = [[Ted Stevens]] (2009)
| successor4          = Chuck Grassley
| office5             = [[District attorney|State's Attorney]] of [[Chittenden County, Vermont]]
| term_start5         = May 10, 1966
| term_end5           = January 2, 1975
| predecessor5        = John Fitzpatrick
| successor5          = Francis Murray
| birth_name          = Patrick Joseph Leahy
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1940|3|31}}
| birth_place         = [[Montpelier, Vermont]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Marcelle Pomerleau|1962}}
| children            = 3
| relatives           = [[Lawrence Jackson (photographer)|Lawrence Jackson]] (son-in-law)
| education           = [[Saint Michael's College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Georgetown University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature           = Pat Leahy Signature.svg
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Sen. Patrick Leahy on the Limitations of English as a National Language.ogg |title=Patrick Leahy's voice |type=speech |description=Patrick Leahy on issues with making English the country's sole [[national language]].<br>Recorded May 18, 2006}}
}}
'''Patrick Joseph Leahy''' {{post-nominals|sep=,|country=GBR|OBEh}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|h|i}} {{respell|LAY|hee}}; born March 31, 1940) is an American politician and attorney who represented [[Vermont]] in the [[United States Senate]] from 1975 to 2023. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he also was the [[president pro tempore of the United States Senate]] from 2012 to 2015 and from 2021 to 2023.

Leahy was the [[List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service|third-longest-serving U.S. senator in history]] at 48 years, and was the longest-serving member of the [[United States Congress]] to serve solely as a senator. During his tenure he chaired the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]], the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]] and the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry|Senate Agriculture Committee]]. In March 2022, he became the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|most senior member of Congress]]. At the time of his retirement, Leahy was the dean of Vermont's congressional delegation, [[List of United States senators from Vermont|Vermont's longest-serving U.S. senator]], and the first [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] ever elected to the U.S. Senate from Vermont. Leahy was succeeded by [[Peter Welch]], who became the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate.

Leahy's signature legislation is the [[Leahy Law]] forbidding the United States from funding foreign military units which violate human rights. Leahy was the presiding officer at [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|Donald Trump's second impeachment trial]], becoming the first senator to preside over a former president's impeachment trial. In 2023, [[Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport]] was renamed after him.

==Early life and education==
Leahy was born in [[Montpelier, Vermont]], the son of Alba ([[married and maiden names|née]] Zambon) and Howard Francis Leahy.<ref name="Legacy">{{cite news |last=D'Ambrosio |first=Dan |date=March 5, 2016 |title=Patrick Leahy's legacy of fighting for human rights |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2016/03/05/vermont-senator-patrick-leahy-human-rights/81281790/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131645/https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.burlingtonfreepress.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2016%2F03%2F05%2Fvermont-senator-patrick-leahy-human-rights%2F81281790%2F |url-status=live }}</ref> He has been legally [[visual impairment|blind]] in his left eye since birth.<ref>{{cite book |last=United States Senate |date=1983 |title=An Amendment to the National Security Act of 1947: Hearings Before the Select Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate |url=http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB138/CIA%20Information%20Act%20-%20Senate%20Hearing.pdf |location=U.S. Government Printing Office |publisher=Washington, DC |pages=25–26 |access-date=July 13, 2015 |archive-date=July 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719152948/http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB138/CIA%20Information%20Act%20-%20Senate%20Hearing.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole |date=January 19, 2013 |title=Vermont Sen. Leahy Takes Shots Like No One Else |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/19/senator-patrick-leahy-photographer/1847279/ |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |location=Tysons Corner, VA |access-date=October 4, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614103423/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/19/senator-patrick-leahy-photographer/1847279/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy's maternal grandparents were [[Italy|Italian]], and his father was of [[Ireland|Irish]] ancestry; some of his ancestors came to Vermont in the 19th century to work at the granite [[Quarry|quarries]] and manufacturing plants in [[Barre (town), Vermont|Barre Town]] and [[Barre (city), Vermont|Barre City]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate's Leahy finds peace on his Vermont farm|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31767381|publisher=NBC News|date=July 6, 2009|agency=Associated Press|access-date=November 10, 2019|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923230049/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31767381|url-status=live}}</ref> The Leahys ran a printing business across from the [[Vermont State House]], and were also the publishers of the ''[[Waterbury, Vermont|Waterbury]] Record'' newspaper.<ref name="Legacy"/> Leahy attended the parochial schools of Montpelier, and graduated from Montpelier's St. Michael's High School in 1957.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5EWgWPBUBYMC&q=patrick+leahy+st+michaels+high+school&pg=PA273|title=Official Congressional Directory|last1=Congress|first1=United States|last2=Michael|first2=W. H.|year=2001|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn=9780160509834|access-date=November 15, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131656/https://books.google.com/books?id=5EWgWPBUBYMC&q=patrick+leahy+st+michaels+high+school&pg=PA273|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1961, Leahy graduated from [[Saint Michael's College]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in government.<ref name="Nutting">{{cite book |last1=Nutting |first1=Brian |last2=Hawkins |first2=David |date=2003 |title=Politics In America 2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TySHYpwgDCcC&q=%22patrick+j.+leahy%22+%22st.+michael%27s+college%22+%22political+science%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=CQ Press |page=1026 |isbn=9781568028132 |access-date=January 11, 2017 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131647/https://books.google.com/books?id=TySHYpwgDCcC&q=%22patrick+j.+leahy%22+%22st.+michael%27s+college%22+%22political+science%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> While attending college, Leahy was a member of the National Federation of Catholic College Students.<ref name="LeahyDegree">{{cite news |date=June 5, 1961 |title=Two Montpelier Youths Receiving Degrees Today at St. Michael's |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89154392/leahy-degree/ |work=[[Barre Montpelier Times Argus]] |location=Barre, VT |page=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118171145/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89154392/leahy-degree/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also involved with the [[Knights of Columbus]], the Saint Michael's College Glee Club, and the school's pre-law society and politics club.<ref name="LeahyDegree"/> He was active with the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] rifle team, and was a member of the varsity rifle team.<ref name="LeahyDegree"/> He was also on the staff of ''The Shield'', the Saint Michael's College yearbook and WSSE, the school's AM radio station.<ref name="LeahyDegree"/> In 1964, Leahy received his [[Juris Doctor]] from the [[Georgetown University Law Center]].<ref name="Nutting" />{{efn|Leahy received an [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]] degree.<ref>{{cite book |last=Georgetown University Law Center |date=1964 |title=Georgetown University Law Center Bulletin, 1964-1965 |url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1041798/1964_bulletin.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Georgetown University |page=84 |access-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119000754/https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1041798/1964_bulletin.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref> Law schools began offering the Juris Doctor as the graduate law degree in the late 1960s; Georgetown made the change in 1967 and made it retroactive so previous graduates could have their degrees revised.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/special-collections/archives/georgetown-law-timeline/ |title=Georgetown Law Chronology: 1870-2019 |website=Georgetown Law Library Special Collections |publisher=Georgetown Law School |location=Washington, DC |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119000312/https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/special-collections/archives/georgetown-law-timeline/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} While in law school, Leahy was active in the [[Phi Delta Phi]] legal [[honor society]].<ref name="Graduate">{{cite news |date=June 19, 1964 |title=Montpelier: Law School Graduate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89153721/leahy-georgetown/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118165905/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89153721/leahy-georgetown/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, Leahy participated in Georgetown Law's [[Legal aid in the United States|Legal Aid]] Society and Legal Argument Program.<ref name="Graduate" /> He was also a representative to the school's [[Student Bar Association]].<ref name="Graduate" />

At graduation, Leahy was offered an [[E. Barrett Prettyman]] Fellowship, which would have enabled him to earn a [[Master of Laws]] degree from Georgetown while receiving training in courtroom advocacy.<ref name="Marcel">{{cite news |author-last=Marcel |author-first=Joyce |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Truckin': The Pat Leahy Story |url=https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/november/16/truckin-pat-leahy-story |work=VermontBiz |publisher=Vermont Business Magazine |location=South Burlington, VT}}</ref> Leahy was also interviewed by the [[United States Attorney General]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]] as one of several Georgetown Law students being considered for recruitment into the [[United States Department of Justice]].<ref name="Marcel"/> He declined the fellowship and did not pursue a position at the Department of Justice because he intended to return to Vermont, and because he did not plan to practice criminal law.<ref name="Marcel"/>

== Early career ==
Leahy was [[Admission to the bar in the United States|admitted to the bar]] soon after his law school graduation and became an [[Associate attorney|associate]] at the [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]] firm headed by [[Philip H. Hoff]], who then was [[governor of Vermont]].<ref>{{cite news |date=May 7, 1966 |title=State's Attorney, City Grand Juror Resign |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89155405/states-attorney/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=13 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214011857/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89155405/states-attorney/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 1965, Leahy was appointed as an assistant to Lewis E. Springer Jr., the legislative draftsman for the [[Vermont General Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news |date=January 6, 1965 |title=Leahy To Help Draft Bills |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89155350/leahy-bills/ |work=[[Barre Montpelier Times Argus]] |location=Barre, VT |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118173111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89155350/leahy-bills/ |url-status=live }}</ref> While working for Hoff's firm, Leahy was also appointed as Burlington's assistant [[city attorney]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 15, 1965 |title=Board Delays Settlement of Wheeler School Land Cases |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89155660/wheeler-land/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT |page=6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214012000/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89155660/wheeler-land/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 1966, Hoff appointed Leahy [[State's Attorney]] of [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden County]] after the incumbent resigned.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 10, 1966 |title=Leahy Sworn in as State's Atty. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187586/leahy-sworn-in/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=13 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119025401/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187586/leahy-sworn-in/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy was elected to a full term in 1966<ref>{{cite news |date=November 9, 1966 |title=Chittenden County Democratic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187697/chittenden-democrats/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=15 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119025410/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187697/chittenden-democrats/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and reelected in 1970.<ref>{{cite news |last=Boardman |first=William |date=August 12, 2012 |title=Vermont Attorney General Race Doesn't Have a Lot of Rules |url=http://ivn.us/2012/08/12/vermont-attorney-general-race-doesnt-have-a-lot-of-rules/ |newspaper=Independent Voter Project |location=San Diego, CA |access-date=January 11, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113132753/http://ivn.us/2012/08/12/vermont-attorney-general-race-doesnt-have-a-lot-of-rules/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His service as state's attorney was notable for his participation in the [[sting operation]] that caught Paul Lawrence, an undercover police officer for numerous departments in Vermont.<ref name="Duffy">{{cite book |last1=Duffy |first1=John J. |last2=Hand |first2=Samuel B. |last3=Orth |first3=Ralph H. |date=2003 |title=The Vermont Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&pg=PA184 |location=Hanover, NH |publisher=University Press of New England |page=184 |isbn=978-1-58465-086-7 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131655/https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&pg=PA184 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kifner |first=John |date=August 2, 1976 |title=Drug Raid Leader Jailed in Vermont |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/08/02/113450401.html?pageNumber=33 |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY |pages=1, 33 |via=[[TimesMachine]] |access-date=February 21, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131632/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/08/02/113450401.html?pageNumber=33 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lawrence falsely claimed to have purchased illegal drugs from several people, resulting in numerous convictions based on his perjury.<ref name="Duffy" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Boyd |first=Bob |date=January 3, 2015 |title=Legacy of a 'super cop' turned bad |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/01/03/legacy-asuper-cop-turned-bad/21230427/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=February 21, 2021 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220231700/https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/01/03/legacy-asuper-cop-turned-bad/21230427/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1971 to 1974, Leahy served as vice president of the National Association of District Attorneys, and in 1974 the organization named him one of the country's  three outstanding prosecutors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-1999-pt18/html/CRECB-1999-pt18-Pg25742.htm |title=Congressional Record: Senator Leahy's 10,000th Vote |last=Daschle |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Daschle |date=1999 |website=govinfo.gov |publisher=U.S. Senate |location=Washington, DC |access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref> Beginning in 1971, he was also involved in the extensive effort to solve the [[murder of Rita Curran]], who had been killed in her Burlington apartment.<ref name="Curran">{{cite news |last=Perron |first=Darren |date=February 22, 2023 |title=Leahy calls Curran murder scene among most violent he ever saw as prosecutor |url=https://www.wcax.com/2023/02/22/leahy-calls-curran-murder-scene-among-most-violent-he-ever-saw-prosecutor/ |work=WCAX TV |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223124654/https://www.wcax.com/2023/02/22/leahy-calls-curran-murder-scene-among-most-violent-he-ever-saw-prosecutor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The murder, which Leahy later called among the most violent he saw while working as a prosecutor, went unsolved until 2023, when [[DNA testing]] of evidence left at the crime scene led to the identification of the perpetrator.<ref name="Curran"/>

==U.S. Senate==
===Early career (1975–1987)===
[[File:Patrick Leahy 1979 congressional photo.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Leahy in 1979]]
[[File:President Jimmy Carter meets Senator Patrick Leahy.jpg|thumb|right|Leahy with President [[Jimmy Carter]] in December 1978]]
Leahy originally aspired to [[Governor of Vermont|the governorship]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Stigliani |first=Emilie Teresa |date=February 14, 2016 |title=Marcelle & Patrick Leahy: A Vermont love story |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/14/marcelle-patrick-leahy-vermont-love-story/76738902/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131637/https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/14/marcelle-patrick-leahy-vermont-love-story/76738902/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but [[1974 United States Senate election in Vermont|in 1974]] ran for the [[United States Senate]] in the wake of the [[Watergate scandal]] that had resulted in President [[Richard Nixon]]'s resignation in August of that year.<ref name="CravenLegacy">{{cite news |last=Craven |first=Jasper |date=October 26, 2016 |title=The Leahy legacy: Fidel, fundraising and influential friends |url=https://vtdigger.org/2016/10/26/leahy-legacy-fidel-fundraising-influential-friends/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611234850/https://vtdigger.org/2016/10/26/leahy-legacy-fidel-fundraising-influential-friends/ |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}}</ref> He won a close race against Republican Congressman [[Richard W. Mallary]] to succeed the retiring [[George Aiken]].<ref name="CravenLegacy"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/states/VT/senators.htm|title=Vermont Senators|publisher=[[United States Senate]]|website=senate.gov|date=April 15, 2013|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014161648/http://www.senate.gov/states/VT/senators.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> At age 34, Leahy was the youngest U.S. senator in Vermont history,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2012/12/patrick_leahy_sworn_in_as_pres.html|title=Patrick Leahy sworn in as president pro tempore of Senate after Daniel Inouye's death|work=[[The Oregonian]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 18, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-date=July 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710133022/https://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2012/12/patrick_leahy_sworn_in_as_pres.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the first non-Republican [[List of United States senators from Vermont|senator from Vermont]] since 1856, and the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the chamber.<ref>{{cite book |date=1981 |title=Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kv3vAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Note+might+be+made+that+between+1856+and+1974+,+when+Democrat+Patrick+J.+Leahy+was+elected%22 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=92 |via=[[Google Books]] |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131636/https://books.google.com/books?id=kv3vAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Note+might+be+made+that+between+1856+and+1974+,+when+Democrat+Patrick+J.+Leahy+was+elected%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|Prior to 1856, [[List of United States senators from Vermont|Vermont's U.S. Senators]] were members of the [[Anti-Administration Party|Anti-Administration]], [[Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]], [[Federalist Party|Federalist]], [[National Republican Party|Anti-Jacksonian]], and [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] parties. From 1856 to 1975, all Vermont's U.S. senators were Republicans.}} In [[1980 United States Senate election in Vermont|1980]], Leahy defeated Republican Stewart Ledbetter by only 2,700 votes amid [[Ronald Reagan]]'s [[landslide victory]] in the [[1980 United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |url =http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/1980GEUSSen.pdf | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20101227212245/http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/1980GEUSSen.pdf |url-status =dead |archive-date =December 27, 2010 |title =U.S. Senator – 1980 General Election Results – Vermont |publisher =vermont-elections.org |date =April 15, 2013 }}</ref> In [[1986 United States Senate election in Vermont|1986]], he faced what was on paper an even stronger challenge from former Governor [[Richard Snelling]], but Leahy turned it back, taking 63 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf|title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986|last=Dendy|first=Dallas Jr.|date=May 29, 1987|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123044610/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1992 United States Senate election in Vermont|1992]], [[Secretary of State of Vermont|Vermont Secretary of State]] [[Jim Douglas]] held him to 54 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1992election.pdf|title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 3, 1992|last=Dendy|first=Dallas Jr.|date=May 31, 1993|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123044622/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1992election.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> After that, Leahy did not face a strong Republican challenger.<ref>{{cite news |last=Heintz |first=Paul |date=October 12, 2016 |title=Forty-Two Years a Senator: Has Leahy Served Long Enough? |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/forty-two-years-a-senator-has-leahy-served-long-enough/Content?oid=3736492 |work=Vermont Seven Days |location=Burlington, VT |quote=But the senator himself seems rattled by his opponent's attacks, perhaps because he has not faced a competitive race since 1992. |access-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-date=November 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110102241/https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/forty-two-years-a-senator-has-leahy-served-long-enough/Content?oid=3736492 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 1981, Leahy and Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] requested that the Senate reject John Crowell Jr.'s nomination as Assistant Agriculture Secretary. Leahy said his opposition was "because documents have been uncovered since his approval by the Agriculture Committee which suggest that he was aware of and involved in the anti-competitive and monopolistic practices of his former employer."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/05/19/Two-Democrats-led-the-opposition-Tuesday-to-President-Reagans/3082359092800/|title=Two Democrats led the opposition Tuesday to President Reagan's ...|first=Sonja|last=Hillgren|date=May 19, 1981|publisher=[[UPI]]|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019222713/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/05/19/Two-Democrats-led-the-opposition-Tuesday-to-President-Reagans/3082359092800/|url-status=live}}</ref> Leahy and Kennedy contended that Crowell concealed his involvement with [[Louisiana-Pacific]], Panhandle Logging Company, and Ketchikan Spruce Mills during the confirmation process.<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Seth S.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/17/us/new-hearings-asked-on-forests-nominee.html|title=New Hearings Asked on Forests Nominee – Democrats Seek Delay in Light of Crowell's Positions With Two Other Lumber Concerns|date=May 17, 1981|page=33|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627154140/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/17/us/new-hearings-asked-on-forests-nominee.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Crowell was confirmed by the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Seth S.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/21/us/forest-chief-gains-senate-s-approval.html|title=Forest Chief Gains Senate's Approval – Democrats Make a Futile Attempt to Return Crowell Nomination for Committee Hearings|date=May 21, 1981|page=A19|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214518/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/21/us/forest-chief-gains-senate-s-approval.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 1981, Leahy introduced an amendment that would have increased the [[United States Department of Energy|Energy Department]]'s enforcement budget by $13 million. He called the Reagan administration's cuts to the enforcement budget "de facto amnesty" for violations made by alleged increases in prices for oil companies. The amendment was defeated in the Senate on October 28 by a vote of 48 to 43.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/28/us/senate-votes-interior-dept-bill-exceeding-new-reagan-budget-goal.html|title=Senate Votes Interior Dept. Bill Exceeding New Reagan Budget Goal|work=The New York Times|date=October 28, 1981|page=A23|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173719/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/28/us/senate-votes-interior-dept-bill-exceeding-new-reagan-budget-goal.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 2, 1981, Leahy voted for an amendment to Reagan's MX missiles proposal that would divert the silo system by $334 million, as well as earmark further research for other methods that would allow giant missiles to be based.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 3, 1981 |title=The 90–4 vote by which the Senate approved the ... |publisher=UPI |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/12/03/The-90-4-vote-by-which-the-Senate-approved-the/2840376203600/ |access-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307082314/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/12/03/The-90-4-vote-by-which-the-Senate-approved-the/2840376203600/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The vote was seen as a rebuff of the Reagan administration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/03/us/senators-reject-plan-for-placing-mx-missile-in-silos.html|title=Senators Reject Plan for Placing MX Missile in Silos|first=Steven V.|last=Roberts|date=December 3, 1981|page=A1|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307082246/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/03/us/senators-reject-plan-for-placing-mx-missile-in-silos.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/1204/120455.html|title=Reagan scorns Senate rejection of silo-based MX missile plan|first=Stephen|last=Webbe|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=December 4, 1981|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307150853/https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/1204/120455.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1982, Leahy was named to the Senate Select Committee to Study Law Enforcement Undercover Activities of the Department of Justice, an eight-member select committee formed to investigate undercover operations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maitland|first=Leslie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/21/us/senate-unit-starts-studying-fbi-undercover-inquiries.html|title=Senate Unit Starts Studying F.B.I. Undercover Inquiries|date=July 21, 1982|page=A12|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828041338/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/21/us/senate-unit-starts-studying-fbi-undercover-inquiries.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The resolution introducing the committee was the result of [[Harrison A. Williams]]'s resignation for his involvement in the [[Abscam]] sting operation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Joseph F.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/12/nyregion/williams-quits-senate-seat-vote-expel-him-nears-still-asserts-he-innocent-text.html|title=Williams Quits Senate Seat As Vote to Expel Him Nears; Still Asserts He Is Innocent – Successor Weighed – Kean Says He Has a List of 50 For Post But Will Not Rush to Fill It|date=March 12, 1982|page=A1|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005736/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/12/nyregion/williams-quits-senate-seat-vote-expel-him-nears-still-asserts-he-innocent-text.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bachrach|first=Judy|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20081347,00.html|title=Facing Expulsion from the Senate He Loves, Harrison Williams Finds Some Unlikely Supporters|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=February 1, 1982|access-date=March 5, 2011|quote=One of them, who asks for anonymity, recalls 'going over to Pete and Nancy's house in Westfield, N.J. and having coffee together. Pete looked about 80 years old—horrible.'|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307205635/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20081347,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 23, 1982, Leahy voted for a five-cent per gallon increase on gasoline taxes across the U.S. to finance highway repairs and mass transit.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 23, 1982 |title=The 54–33 vote by which the Senate gave final ... |publisher=UPI |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/23/The-54-33-vote-by-which-the-Senate-gave-final/8101409467600/ |access-date=October 4, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806062906/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/23/The-54-33-vote-by-which-the-Senate-gave-final/8101409467600/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The bill passed on the last day of the [[97th United States Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/24/us/filibuster-cut-off-senate-votes-rise-in-gas-tax-54-to-33.html|title=Filibuster Cut Off, Senate Votes Rise in Gas Tax, 54 to 33 – 97th Congress Ends – Bill Lifts Levy to 9 Cents a Gallon on April 1st to Pay for Road Repair|first=Martin|last=Tolchin|date=December 24, 1982|page=A1|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124014125/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/24/us/filibuster-cut-off-senate-votes-rise-in-gas-tax-54-to-33.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/12/24/senate-passes-gas-tax-bill-closes-the-97th/0da388b7-388e-426f-aefe-d29b20622b12/|title=Senate Passes Gas-Tax Bill, Closes the 97th|date=December 24, 1982|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=David|last=Maraniss|author-link=David Maraniss|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922183024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/12/24/senate-passes-gas-tax-bill-closes-the-97th/0da388b7-388e-426f-aefe-d29b20622b12/|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 19, 1983, Leahy voted for a bill establishing [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/us/senate-s-roll-call-vote-on-king-holiday.html|title=Senate's Roll-Call Vote on King Holiday|date=October 20, 1983|page=B9|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123223937/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/us/senate-s-roll-call-vote-on-king-holiday.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reagan signed the legislation the next month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1983/110283a.htm|title=Remarks on Signing the Bill Making the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a National Holiday|date=November 2, 1983|publisher=Reagan Library|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|access-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301224921/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1983/110283a.htm|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 1984, Leahy voted against a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing periods in public school for silent prayer,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/16/us/senate-vote-on-school-prayer.html|title=Senate Vote on School Prayer|date=March 16, 1984|page=B5|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315003710/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/16/us/senate-vote-on-school-prayer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and against Reagan's unsuccessful proposal for a constitutional amendment permitting organized school prayer in public schools.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tolchin|first=Martin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/21/us/amendment-drive-on-school-prayer-loses-senate-vote.html|title=Amendment Drive on School Prayer Loses Senate Vote – 11 Short of Passing – Moderates in G.O.P. Join 26 Democrats Against Reagan's Proposal|date=March 21, 1984|page=A1|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315070445/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/21/us/amendment-drive-on-school-prayer-loses-senate-vote.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/21/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-school-prayer.html|title=Senate's Roll Call on School Prayer|date=March 21, 1984|page=B7|access-date=October 12, 2018|work=The New York Times|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315005350/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/21/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-school-prayer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Senate Agriculture Committee and other activities (1987–1999) ===
[[File:President Bill Clinton greeting senate leadership before a luncheon at the United States Capitol (30) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Leahy with President [[Bill Clinton]] in February 1993]]
Leahy was appointed chair of the [[Senate Agriculture Committee]] on January 3, 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leahy |first=Patrick |date=1999 |title=Senator Leahy's 10,000th vote |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-1999-pt18/html/CRECB-1999-pt18-Pg25742.htm |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=U.S. Government Publishing Office |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203901/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-1999-pt18/html/CRECB-1999-pt18-Pg25742.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Leahy |first=Patrick J. |title=The Road Taken: A Memoir |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-9821-5735-7 |edition=1st |location=New York City |pages=465 |oclc=1265084645}}</ref> During his tenure as vice-chair of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] in 1987, Leahy showed a news reporter an unclassified draft report on the [[Iran–Contra affair]].<ref name="contra">{{cite news |last=Engelberg |first=Stephen |date=July 29, 1987 |title=Iran-Contra Hearings; Senator Leahy Says He Leaked Report of Panel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/29/us/iran-contra-hearings-senator-leahy-says-he-leaked-report-of-panel.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY |page=A1 |via=[[TimesMachine]] |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229204327/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/29/us/iran-contra-hearings-senator-leahy-says-he-leaked-report-of-panel.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At a press conference afterward, Leahy said, "Even though it was declassified, I was way too careless about it" and accepted blame.<ref name="contra"/> Disclosure of that information was against Intelligence Committee rules; Leahy said he hastened his already planned departure from the committee because he was so angry at himself.<ref name="contra"/> Later that year, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Leahy said that if Reagan could not produce an acceptable Supreme Court nominee{{efn|Senate Democrats noted several proposed nominees, most emphatically [[Pasco Bowman II]] and [[John Clifford Wallace]], as unacceptable immediately following Bork's rejection.<ref name="High">Epstein, Aaron; '3 High Court Hopefuls Deemed OK'; ''[[The Miami Herald]]'', October 28, 1987, p. 16</ref>}} to replace [[Lewis F. Powell Jr.]], after [[Robert Bork]] [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination|was rejected]] and [[Douglas Ginsburg]] withdrew, Senate Democrats would refuse hearings for any nominee until after the [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 presidential election]].<ref>Yalof, David Alistair; ''Pursuit of Justices: Presidential Politics and the Selection of Supreme Court Nominees'', p. 164 {{ISBN|9780226945460}}</ref> In May 1989, Leahy urged the [[United States Department of Agriculture|Agriculture Department]] to withdraw the proposals regarding the reduction of federal inspections.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 21, 1989 |title=U.S. Withdraws a Plan to Ease Meat Inspections |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/us/us-withdraws-a-plan-to-ease-meat-inspections.html |access-date=August 20, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/us/us-withdraws-a-plan-to-ease-meat-inspections.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  In May 1990, he and Representative [[Dan Glickman]] introduced the Consumer Seafood Safety Act, a bill that would have strengthened fish inspections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=La Ganga |first=Maria |date=May 9, 1990 |title=Sea of Confusion Over 'Fresh Fish' Definition : Food: Congress may intervene with bills to protect the seafood buyer. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-09-fi-308-story.html |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-09-fi-308-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy has been active in the international effort to ban the production, export, and use of [[Anti-personnel mine|anti-personnel land mines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Landmines & Cluster Munitions |url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/issues/landmines-and-cluster-munitions |access-date=November 2, 2019 |website=leahy.senate.gov |publisher=Office of Senator Patrick Leahy |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111005657/https://www.leahy.senate.gov/issues/landmines-and-cluster-munitions |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1992, he penned a bill to prohibit the export of land mines, the first law of its kind.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craven |first=Jasper |date=July 13, 2014 |title=A Vermont senator's long battle against land mines |url=https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/a-vermont-senator-s-long-battle-against-land-mines/article_67cd8bd3-8d04-58b4-b84f-266993b4dc11.html |access-date=November 2, 2019 |work=[[Rutland Herald]] |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102190752/https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/a-vermont-senator-s-long-battle-against-land-mines/article_67cd8bd3-8d04-58b4-b84f-266993b4dc11.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 1992, the [[George H. W. Bush]] administration and Israeli officials struggled to strike a deal that would entice both sides to proceed with a loan guarantee package. After a meeting between Secretary of State [[James Baker]] and [[Zalman Shoval]] failed to generate a compromise,<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli compromise to get loans falls short of U.S. goal|date=February 8, 1992|work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]}}</ref> Baker informed Leahy of the meeting's contents and Leahy announced that he would introduce his own plan if the U.S. and Israel could not come to an agreement in the following weeks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Friedman|first=Thomas L.|author-link=Thomas Friedman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/08/world/israel-informs-us-of-stand-on-loans.html|title=Israel Informs U.S. of Stand on Loans|date=February 8, 1992|page=5|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627230659/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/08/world/israel-informs-us-of-stand-on-loans.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, the Bush administration announced the U.S. would present Israel with loan guarantees only if the Israeli government halted settlement building. Leahy supported the measure and introduced his own proposal that retained the $10 billion in loan guarantees, but "disbursed at a pace up to $2 billion a year for five years".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/26/world/senators-press-baker-on-israel-loan-guarantees.html|title=Senators Press Baker on Israel Loan Guarantees|first=Thomas L.|last=Friedman|date=February 26, 1992|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=September 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902061539/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/26/world/senators-press-baker-on-israel-loan-guarantees.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 20, 1993, Leahy voted for the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/21/us/senate-roll-call-on-trade-pact.html|title=Senate Roll-Call On Trade Pact|date=November 21, 1993|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903072303/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/21/us/senate-roll-call-on-trade-pact.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The agreement linked the U.S., Canada, and Mexico into a single free trade zone, and was signed into law on December 8 by President [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1993/12/09/issue.html|title=Clinton Signs Free Trade Agreement|date=December 9, 1993|work=The New York Times|page=A20|via=[[TimesMachine]]|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131641/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1993/12/09/issue.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Clinton publicly weighed reducing funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by half. In March 1994, during a news conference, Leahy pledged that he would preserve funding for TEFAP, noting his 1987 lawsuit against Agriculture Secretary Richard Edmund Lyng and declaring that TEFAP maintained the same level of significance as it did then.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/03/08/A-nationwide-food-bank-announced-Tuesday-it-serves-26/5603763102800/|title=A nationwide food bank announced Tuesday it serves 26 ...|date=March 8, 1994|publisher=UPI|first=Jill|last=Lee|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806062235/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/03/08/A-nationwide-food-bank-announced-Tuesday-it-serves-26/5603763102800/|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 1994, Leahy attended a news conference with the health advocacy group Public Voice, as it urged the federal government to take more ambitious steps to increase the healthiness of school lunches. He praised the 41 schools involved with Public Voice for setting a good example for the rest of the country and cited the importance of school lunches to education.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/30/Group-urges-new-school-food-standards/7305778219200/|title=Group urges new school food standards|date=August 30, 1994|publisher=UPI|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806065001/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/30/Group-urges-new-school-food-standards/7305778219200/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 1994 midterm elections resulted in a Republican majority in the House for the first time since the 1950s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-01-19-gop-revolution-usat_x.htm|title=Republican Revolution Fades|first=Andrea|last=Stone|work=[[USA Today]]|date=January 19, 2003|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=May 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520051404/https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-01-19-gop-revolution-usat_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and conversation arose of limiting feeding programs. Leahy remarked, "Not since the Great Depression has the possibility of millions of children lining up at soup kitchens been so real."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/25/opinion/abroad-at-home-thanks-and-giving.html|title=Abroad at Home; Thanks And Giving|date=November 25, 1994|work=The New York Times|first=Anthony|last=Lewis|author-link=Anthony Lewis|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903184558/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/25/opinion/abroad-at-home-thanks-and-giving.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He cosponsored legislation with [[Indiana]] Republican [[Richard Lugar]] that led to the downsizing of the [[United States Department of Agriculture|Agriculture Department]]. In December 1994, the department announced it was closing 1,274 field offices around the US, a scaling back that was estimated to save over $3 billion over the next five years. Leahy said the Agriculture Department was the only federal agency to succeed in its downsizing efforts and called on other agencies to follow its example.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/12/06/USDA-to-close-1274-field-offices/2678786690000/|title=USDA to close 1,274 field offices|first=Rex|last=Nutting|date=December 6, 1994|publisher=UPI|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806053829/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/12/06/USDA-to-close-1274-field-offices/2678786690000/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1994, Leahy introduced legislation to encourage schools to ban soft drinks and other food items of "minimal nutritional value",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/26/us/senator-promoting-student-nutrition-battles-coca-cola.html|title=Senator, Promoting Student Nutrition, Battles Coca-Cola|date=April 26, 1994|work=The New York Times|first=Robert|last=Pear|author-link=Robert Pear|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903103717/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/26/us/senator-promoting-student-nutrition-battles-coca-cola.html|url-status=live}}</ref> saying, "These vending profits go for good causes. But when it comes to vending machine junk food, it would be better to put pupils ahead of vending profits." The bill overcame opposition from [[The Coca-Cola Company]] and other representatives of the beverage industry, as well as some education organizations, and was enacted.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beyers |first=Dan |date=October 14, 1996 |title=Soda Machines in Schools Open Up a Can of Worms |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/10/14/soda-machines-in-schools-open-up-a-can-of-worms/31edb495-16b6-4039-8075-c3e2a11d7f0a/ |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922211448/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/10/14/soda-machines-in-schools-open-up-a-can-of-worms/31edb495-16b6-4039-8075-c3e2a11d7f0a/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 1999, Leahy voted for the [[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty]]. The treaty was designed to ban underground nuclear testing and was the first major international security pact to be defeated in the Senate since the [[Treaty of Versailles]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/14/world/defeat-treaty-overview-senate-kills-test-ban-treaty-crushing-loss-for-clinton.html|title=Senate Kills Test Ban Treaty in Crushing Loss for Clinton; Evokes Versailles Pact Defeat – Vote Is 1 to 48 – Last-Ditch Proposal to Put Off Action Fails Along Party Lines|first=Eric|last=Schmitt|author-link=Eric P. Schmitt|date=October 14, 1999|page=A1|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414172505/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/14/world/defeat-treaty-overview-senate-kills-test-ban-treaty-crushing-loss-for-clinton.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/oct99/senate14.htm|title=Senate Rejects Test Ban Treaty|date=October 14, 1999|first=Helen|last=Dewar|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227153749/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/oct99/senate14.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1999 to 2009===
[[File:GATES APPRO.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Former Committee Chairman [[Robert Byrd]] (D-[[West Virginia]], far right) shakes hands with Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]], while Senators Patrick Leahy (D-[[Vermont]], center right) and [[Tom Harkin]] (D-[[Iowa]]) look on. The hearing was held to discuss further funding for the [[War in Iraq]].]]

The [[1998 United States Senate election in Vermont]] was noteworthy, in that [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate [[Fred Tuttle]] endorsed Leahy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=Bill |date=October 22, 1998 |title=Fred Tuttle: One candidate hoping to lose this November |url=https://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/10/22/vermont.senate/ |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=CNN |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/10/22/vermont.senate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Tuttle was a retired farmer and the lead actor in the mock documentary film ''[[Man with a Plan (film)|Man with a Plan]]'', shot in Vermont, in which a farmer decides to run for Congress.<ref name=":0" /> After winning the Republican nomination in a campaign designed both to promote the movie and to mock ostensible GOP frontrunner [[John A. McMullen|Jack McMullen]], who had only recently moved to Vermont from Massachusetts, Tuttle recommended that voters support Leahy.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Jane |date=October 27, 1998 |title=Fred Tuttle: Man with a plan? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/09/98/us_midterms/197229.stm |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=BBC News |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405002229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/09/98/us_midterms/197229.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy was touched by this gesture; he and Tuttle made several joint appearances during the campaign, and Leahy said of Tuttle that he was the "distilled essence of Vermonthood".<ref name=":0" />

The [[September 11 attacks]] on the World Trade Center shifted American foreign policy focus to [[terrorism]]. In December 2006, during an appearance at the law school of [[Georgetown University]], Leahy said that after the September 11 attacks, "the White House accelerated its power plays at the expense of the other branches of government, all in the name of fighting terrorism." He added that the administration had declined to answer "the legitimate oversight questions of the public's duly elected representatives", as well as broken the law by wiretapping Americans without warrants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/us/14oversight.html|title=Panel to Focus on Civil Liberties|first=David|last=Johnston|date=December 14, 2006|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121133559/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/us/14oversight.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 13, 2002, Leahy said in a radio interview that an investigation should be launched into whether the West Nile virus was a biological terrorism effort.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/13/us/vermont-senator-wants-study-of-terror-link-to-west-nile-virus.html|title=Vermont Senator Wants Study Of Terror Link to West Nile Virus|date=September 13, 2002|work=The New York Times|first=Christopher|last=Marquis|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117160507/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/13/us/vermont-senator-wants-study-of-terror-link-to-west-nile-virus.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During a July 1, 2007, interview, Leahy said he was not against lawful eavesdropping and recommended a revision to the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, so potential terrorists could be investigated without question.<ref name=UPI2007>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Leahy-Surveillance-needed-within-limits/70751183338904/|title=Leahy: Surveillance needed within limits|date=July 1, 2007|publisher=UPI|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323115145/https://www.upi.com/Leahy-Surveillance-needed-within-limits/70751183338904/|url-status=live}}</ref> Leahy added that the White House had been subpoenaed, so [[George W. Bush]] administration officials could explain "the legal justification they tried to follow when, for years, they wiretapped ordinary Americans and everyone else put out a warrant."<ref name=UPI2007 /> Leahy was one of two senators targeted in the [[2001 anthrax attacks]]. The [[anthrax]] letter meant for him was intercepted before it reached his office. In 2004, Leahy was awarded the [[Electronic Privacy Information Center]]'s Champion of Freedom Award, for efforts in information privacy and [[open government]]. He is regarded as one of the leading privacy advocates in Congress.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gellman |first1=Robert |last2=Dixon |first2=Pam |date=2011 |title=Online Privacy: A Reference Handbook |publisher=Abc-Clio |isbn=9781598846492 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4scv_OjuUHgC&q=%22leahy%22+leading+privacy+advocate&pg=PA141 |access-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131639/https://books.google.com/books?id=4scv_OjuUHgC&q=%22leahy%22+leading+privacy+advocate&pg=PA141 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2000, Leahy cosigned a letter sent to Appropriations Committee conference members, requesting a delay in implementing Section 304 in H.R. 4392, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/congress/2000/h106-969.html#304|title=Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001|website=fas.org|publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]]|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120055035/http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2000/h106-969.html#304|url-status=live}}</ref> until it could be fully considered by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The amendment would introduce new felony crime laws, concerning the unauthorized disclosure of information. Leahy and his colleagues indicated this would be in conflict with existing [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights and [[Whistleblower Protection Act]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/news/2001/09/conyersbarr.html|title=House Judiciary Committee Asserts Jurisdiction Over "Anti-Leak" Provision|website=fas.org|publisher=Federation of American Scientists|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120035517/http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2001/09/conyersbarr.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/news/2000/10/leahy.html|title=Sens. Leahy, Grassley, and Schumer Urge Deferral of New Leak Statute|website=fas.org|publisher=Federation of American Scientists|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120113556/http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2000/10/leahy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 22, 2004, Leahy and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] participated in the U.S. Senate class photo. After the vote, Cheney was talking to only Republicans. When Leahy asked him to come over and talk to the Democrats, Cheney upbraided Leahy for the Senator's recent excoriations of [[Halliburton]]'s activities in [[Iraq]]. At the end of the exchange, Cheney told Leahy, "Go fuck yourself."<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19976707 "Countdown with Keith Olbermann"]  for July 25. [[NBC News]] (July 26, 2007). Retrieved December 4, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3699-2004Jun24.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first1=Helen|last1=Dewar|first2=Dana|last2=Milbank|author-link1=Helen Dewar|author-link2=Dana Milbank|title=Cheney Dismisses Critic With Obscenity|date=June 25, 2004|access-date=May 22, 2010|archive-date=October 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009042518/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3699-2004Jun24.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Leahy joked about the incident in 2007, when he escorted [[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont's newly elected senator, to the well of the Senate where he was sworn in by Cheney: "When it comes to the vice president, it's always better to be sworn in than to be sworn at."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20061210%2FNEWS01%2F612100381%2F1002%2FNEWS01|title=Leahy relishing rise to power|work=[[Barre Montpelier Times Argus]]|date=December 10, 2006|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927172110/http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20061210%2FNEWS01%2F612100381%2F1002%2FNEWS01|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Leahy opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and writes in his 2022 memoir that he found files with information that contradicted Dick Cheney's public statements about Iraq after mysterious joggers whose identities he did not know told him to request specific files.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Have You Seen 'File 8'?: The Real-Life Spy Thriller Inside Patrick Leahy's Memoir |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/10/21/the-eeriest-conversation-id-experienced-in-washington-00061507 |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=POLITICO |date=October 21, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102053059/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/10/21/the-eeriest-conversation-id-experienced-in-washington-00061507 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2022 |title=FBI was reportedly warned agents were 'sympathetic' to Capitol rioters – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2022/oct/14/trump-testimony-jan-6-hearing-subpoena-midterms-debates |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102053059/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2022/oct/14/trump-testimony-jan-6-hearing-subpoena-midterms-debates |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy small}}In March 2004, Leahy and Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] introduced the [[Pirate Act]], backed by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. In July 2004, Leahy and Hatch introduced the [[INDUCE Act]]. Both were aimed at combating [[copyright infringement]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64315,00.html|title=Techies Blast Induce Act|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|first=Katie|last=Dean|date=July 23, 2004|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=October 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007154144/http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64315,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[2004 United States Senate election in Vermont|November 2, 2004]], Leahy easily defeated his opponent, businessman Jack McMullen, with 70.6 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN.com Election 2004 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/VT/S/01/ |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=CNN |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/VT/S/01/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 21, 2005, Leahy announced his support for [[John G. Roberts|John Roberts]] to be [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] of the [[United States Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stout |first=David |date=July 27, 2005 |title=Leahy Warns Against 'Activist' Role for High Court Nominee |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/politics/politicsspecial1/leahy-warns-against-activist-role-for-high-court.html |access-date=August 20, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/politics/politicsspecial1/leahy-warns-against-activist-role-for-high-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 19, 2006, Leahy announced that he would vote against Judge [[Samuel Alito]], to be a justice of the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2009 |title=Key Player: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/politics-jan-june09-leahy_05-26 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/politics-jan-june09-leahy_05-26 |url-status=live }}</ref> He has a mixed record on [[gun control]], being one of the few Senate Democrats to vote against the [[Brady Bill]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bernie Sanders' position on guns has changed. PolitiFact explores his history |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/2020/02/13/bernie-sanders-position-on-guns-has-changed-politifact-explores-his-history/ |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/2020/02/13/bernie-sanders-position-on-guns-has-changed-politifact-explores-his-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He voted for the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA) and is in favor of phasing out [[farm subsidies]]. He voted against the [[Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1091/vote_109_1_00170.htm |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=www.senate.gov |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820203813/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1091/vote_109_1_00170.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy voted for the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] and was one of the few in his party to support the ban on [[intact dilation and extraction]] procedures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Patrick Leahy – Gay Marriage |url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Vermont/Patrick_Leahy/Views/Gay_Marriage/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710172259/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Vermont/Patrick_Leahy/Views/Gay_Marriage/ |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |access-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> In 2005, [[Project on Government Oversight]], a government watchdog group, presented Leahy and Senator [[John Cornyn]] with its first ever Bi-Partisan Leadership Award, in honor of their cooperation on issues of government oversight and transparency, including their co-sponsorship of the OPEN Government Act of 2005, which prevented burying exemptions to the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] in legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pogo.org/honorees/good-government-award/|title=Good Government Award|website=pogo.org|publisher=[[Project on Government Oversight]]|access-date=July 1, 2010|archive-date=July 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707020520/http://www.pogo.org/honorees/good-government-award/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 2, 2006, Leahy was one of ten senators to vote against the [[USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act]], a bill to extend the [[USA PATRIOT Act]]. The Reauthorization Act changed the appointment process for interim United States attorneys, allowing the [[Attorney General of the United States]] to make interim appointments without [[term limit]] or Senatorial confirmation. This was an aspect of hearings in the [[2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys|dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy]]. In March 2007, both houses voted to overturn the interim appointment provision. On January 18, 2007, Leahy received widespread coverage for his cross-examination of Attorney General [[Alberto Gonzales]], about the [[Maher Arar]] affair and the [[Extraordinary rendition by the United States|extraordinary rendition]] of Arar to [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/u-s-knew-damn-well-arar-would-be-tortured-senator-1.639116 | publisher=[[CBC News]] | title=U.S. 'knew damn well' Arar would be tortured: senator | date=January 18, 2007 | archive-date = November 13, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113145622/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2007/01/18/arar-us.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Later career (2009–2023)===
[[File:Leahy2009.jpg|right|thumb|Leahy in 2009]]
[[File:P20221205AS-0493 (52651192614).jpg|thumb|right|Leahy with President [[Joe Biden]] and [[Richard Shelby]] in December 2022]]
Leahy endorsed [[Barack Obama]], the Democratic junior senator from [[Illinois]], in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]], and recorded a radio advertisement for the [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|Obama campaign]] to be aired in Vermont.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obama.3cdn.net/105d7d7f25854179d0_jpm6vafyv.mp3|title=Campaign advertisement recording|year=2008|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184938/http://obama.3cdn.net/105d7d7f25854179d0_jpm6vafyv.mp3|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In May 2009, President Obama nominated [[Sonia Sotomayor]] to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor received criticism for having said "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." In June, Leahy discussed the remark with Sotomayor and secured her consent to publicly recount their conversation. According to Leahy, the comment meant she believed one's life experiences influence who they are, but that judges of all ethnic backgrounds are still required to follow the law, which is the same for every American.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/us/politics/03judge.html|title=Parties Plot Strategy as Sotomayor Visits Capitol|date=June 2, 2009|work=The New York Times|first1=David M.|last1=Herszenhorn|first2=Carl|last2=Hulse|author-link2=Carl Hulse|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=October 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016064816/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/us/politics/03judge.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August, on the day of Sotomayor's confirmation, Leahy defended her record against Republican critics: "Judge Sotomayor's career and judicial record demonstrates that she has always followed the rule of law. Attempts at distorting that record by suggesting that her ethnicity or heritage will be the driving force in her decisions as a justice of the Supreme Court are demeaning to women and all communities of color."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/us/politics/07confirm.html|title=Sotomayor Confirmed by Senate, 68–31|date=August 6, 2009|first=Charlie|last=Savage|author-link=Charlie Savage (author)|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919051849/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/us/politics/07confirm.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 20, 2010, Leahy introduced the [[Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act]], Senate Bill S. 3804, which would allow the court to issue a restraining order or injunction against Internet [[domain name]]s which infringe upon [[copyright]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-3804|title=S. 3804 (111th): Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act|work=[[GovTrack]]|date=September 20, 2010|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=January 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103115320/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-3804|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2011, Leahy introduced the [[Protect IP Act]] (PIPA) to the Senate. The bill was drafted to give the U.S. government and copyright holders additional tools to fight copyright piracy and counterfeit goods trafficking by foreign rogue websites. Critics of the bill said it would be ineffective, impede free expression on the internet, and interfere with its infrastructure. Leahy subsequently indicated that he would favor further research into provisions that raised objections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wikipedia-blackout-websites-wikipedia-reddit-dark-wednesday-protest/story?id=15373251|first=Ned|last=Potter|title=Wikipedia Blackout: Websites Wikipedia, Reddit, Others Go Dark Wednesday to Protest SOPA, PIPA|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=January 17, 2012|access-date=January 17, 2012|archive-date=January 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118034829/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wikipedia-blackout-websites-wikipedia-reddit-dark-wednesday-protest/story?id=15373251|url-status=live}}</ref>

Leahy chaired the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee]] from 1987 until 1995, and the Judiciary Committee from 2001 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2015. He is one of the key Democratic leaders on Senate issues on rules for filling federal judgeships, via [[advise and consent]]. Leahy serves as second-highest Democrat on the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]] and as Chairman of the [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs]]. In his position as the second-highest Democrat on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Leahy chairs the [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance, Sustainable and Organic Agriculture, and General Legislation|Agriculture Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General Legislation]].

Upon the death of Senate [[President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate|President pro tempore]] [[Daniel Inouye]], a [[Hawaii]] Democrat, on December 17, 2012, Leahy became the most senior senator in the majority party, and was elected president pro tempore by [[unanimous consent]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Vermont's Leahy now 3rd in presidential succession|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2012/dec/17/vermonts-leahy-now-3rd-in-presidential-succession/|access-date=April 9, 2016|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 17, 2012|archive-date=April 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424193039/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2012/dec/17/vermonts-leahy-now-3rd-in-presidential-succession/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/12/leahy-will-become-president-pro-tempore-of-senate-152221|title=Leahy will become president pro tempore of Senate|work=[[Politico]]|first=Manu|last=Raju|author-link=Manu Raju|date=December 17, 2012|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=June 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601213712/http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/12/leahy-will-become-president-pro-tempore-of-senate-152221.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was succeeded in this post by Orrin Hatch on January 3, 2015, and became president pro tempore emeritus.

In February 2013, Leahy was one of 24 senators to sign a letter asserting that Sikh, Hindu and Arab Americans were often targets of violence because they were mistaken for radical Muslims and citing a need for the federal government to "begin tracking information about anti-Sikh, anti-Hindu and anti-Arab hate crimes as soon as possible so that law enforcement can more effectively respond to this threat".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/142659-senate-democrats-want-more-data-on-hate-crimes-against-arab-americans/|title=Senate Democrats want more data on hate crimes against Arab Americans|date=February 20, 2013|first=Ramsey|last=Cox|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806043621/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/283963-senate-democrats-want-more-data-on-hate-crimes-against-arab-americans|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2013, Leahy filed three amendments to an immigration reform package, including one that proposed recognizing same-sex marriages when one spouse is an American. He said implementation of the amendment would end discrimination in the American immigration system and that seeking "equal protection under our laws for the LGBT community is the right thing to do."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/11/vermont-senator-revives-debate-over-gay-rights-in-immigration-bill/|title=Vermont senator revives debate over gay rights in immigration bill|date=June 11, 2013|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 1, 2018|archive-date=November 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095713/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/11/vermont-senator-revives-debate-over-gay-rights-in-immigration-bill/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to GovTrack, in 2013, Leahy was the senator who has sponsored the most bipartisan bills. Sixty-one percent of bills he sponsored had both Democratic and Republican co-sponsors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Patrick Leahy's 2013 Report Card|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/patrick_leahy/300065/report-card/2013|website=GovTrack|access-date=August 15, 2014|archive-date=August 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819125756/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/patrick_leahy/300065/report-card/2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2015, Leahy headed a congressional delegation to [[Cuba]], meant to "impress upon Cuban leaders the importance of concrete results and positive momentum". It was American officials' first visit to Cuba, since President Obama announced normalized relations between the US and Cuba the previous month.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/16/politics/congressional-delegation-travels-to-cuba/index.html|title=U.S. Congressional delegation travels to Cuba this weekend|first1=Athena|last1=Jones|first2=Deirdre|last2=Walsh|date=January 20, 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819050326/https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/16/politics/congressional-delegation-travels-to-cuba/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2015, after the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] was unveiled, an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=248149 |title=Zarif: We've never claimed nuclear deal only favors Iran |work=[[Tehran Times]] |date=July 22, 2015 |access-date=October 6, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614213046/http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=248149 |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy issued a statement saying it was preferable to war and calling it "unfortunate" that some members of Congress opposed the deal as the lack of deal would allow Iran to further develop nuclear weapons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsok.com/article/feed/863321|title=Vermont's Leahy, Sanders, Welch praise Iran nuclear deal|date=July 15, 2015|work=[[The Oklahoman]]|access-date=October 6, 2020|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030222453/http://newsok.com/article/feed/863321|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2017, during a hearing, Leahy asked [[Jeff Sessions]], President-elect [[Donald Trump]]'s nominee for attorney general, whether he believed grabbing a woman by her genitals without consent was sexual assault, in reference to comments made by Trump on the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape|''Access Hollywood'' tape]] that had surfaced during the election cycle. Leahy also asked Sessions if he would be able to "prosecute and investigate" a president or elected official who had been accused of committing the aforementioned act.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/politics/patrick-leahy-jeff-sessions-donald-trump-sexual-assault-allegations/index.html|title=Leahy questions Sessions over Trump's 'Access Hollywood' comments|first=Danielle|last=Diaz|publisher=CNN|date=January 10, 2017|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105094209/https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/politics/patrick-leahy-jeff-sessions-donald-trump-sexual-assault-allegations/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2017, Leahy was one of 11 senators to cosponsor a bill that would have restored a FCC rule requiring internet service providers to obtain permission from customers before selling data about them to advertisers that had been repealed earlier in the week.<ref name="privacy"/>

On June 1, 2017, weeks after the firing of FBI Director [[James Comey]], Leahy and Senator [[Al Franken]] of [[Minnesota]] released a joint statement disclosing their prior request of Comey to investigate all contacts and communications Attorney General Sessions or his aides had with Russian government officials and raised the question of whether Sessions had committed perjury in his Senate testimony.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/01/jeff-sessions-testimony-perjury-democrats-239024|title=Senate Dems: Sessions' testimony could be 'construed as perjury'|first=Seung Min|last=Kim|author-link=Seung Min Kim|work=Politico|date=June 1, 2017|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111231431/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/01/jeff-sessions-testimony-perjury-democrats-239024|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2017, Leahy was one of eight senators to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a defense policy bill that included $640&nbsp;billion in base defense spending and $60&nbsp;billion in war funds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/351265-senate-passes-700b-defense-bill/|title=Senate passes $700B defense bill|first=Jordain|last=Carney|date=September 18, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031035334/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/351265-senate-passes-700b-defense-bill|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2017, Leahy was one of ten Democratic senators to sign a letter urging [[Prime Minister of Israel]] [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] to halt the planned demolitions of Palestinian villages [[Khan al-Ahmar (village)|Khan al-Ahmar]] and Sussiya, on the grounds that such action would further impede efforts to seek a two-state solution and "endanger Israel's future as a Jewish democracy".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-senators-urge-netanyahu-not-to-raze-palestinian-villages/|title=Democratic senators urge Netanyahu not to raze Palestinian villages|date=November 30, 2017|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|first=Eric|last=Cortellessa|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319120659/https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-senators-urge-netanyahu-not-to-raze-palestinian-villages/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 18, 2018, Leahy announced he would not support the stopgap measure for the fiscal year to avert a government shutdown, saying the House bill left "too much undone, and it is woefully inadequate". Leahy added that bipartisan support for the bill would only come from collaborating with Democrats and charged Republicans with "appealing for our support only after they've written a mishmash bill crafted behind closed doors".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-shutdown-leahy/senator-leahy-to-oppose-another-stopgap-spending-bill-idUSKBN1F72R6|title=Senator Leahy to oppose another stopgap spending bill|date=January 18, 2018|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806082916/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-shutdown-leahy/senator-leahy-to-oppose-another-stopgap-spending-bill-idUSKBN1F72R6|url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[United States federal government shutdown of January 2018]] commenced,<ref>{{cite news|title=Government shuts down on one-year anniversary of Trump presidency|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-2018-01-20-senate-vote-deal-latest-news-live-updates/|access-date=January 20, 2018|work=[[CBS News]]|date=January 20, 2018|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723061843/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-2018-01-20-senate-vote-deal-latest-news-live-updates/|url-status=live}}</ref> Leahy was one of 18 senators to vote against temporary funding.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stracqualursi|first1=Veronica|title=How senators voted to end the government shutdown|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/22/politics/senate-vote-reopen-government/index.html|access-date=January 24, 2018|publisher=CNN|date=January 22, 2018|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135852/https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/22/politics/senate-vote-reopen-government/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2018, Leahy was one of four senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of Defense]] [[James Mattis]] requesting that the Pentagon estimate the cost of and time needed to assemble President Trump's requested military parade, calling the parade seemingly "inappropriate and wasteful" at a time of war.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/372802-senate-dems-demand-answers-on-cost-of-trumps-military-parade-proposal/|title=Senate Dems demand answers on cost of Trump's military parade proposal|date=February 7, 2018|work=The Hill|first=Ellen|last=Mitchell|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031214/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/372802-senate-dems-demand-answers-on-cost-of-trumps-military-parade-proposal|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2018, Leahy wrote a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman [[Chuck Grassley]] in which he expressed his fear that "the damage being done to the FBI, and to our nation's institutions more broadly, will far outlast any current crises unless we take decisive, bipartisan action" and requested an oversight hearing on the Trump administration's criticisms of the FBI and Justice Department.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/378947-judiciary-dem-calls-for-hearing-on-trumps-fbi-attacks/|title=Judiciary Dem calls for hearing on Trump's FBI attacks|date=March 17, 2018|work=The Hill|first=Max|last=Greenwood|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033606/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/378947-judiciary-dem-calls-for-hearing-on-trumps-fbi-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2018, as the Senate weighed the first spending package for the 2019 fiscal year, Leahy advocated for increasing the spending cap for a veterans' care program. When this proposal was not implemented in the final version of the package, which consisted of military construction and veterans' affairs, legislative branch, and energy and water, Leahy warned the decision would leave the VA choice program unfunded.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/406401-senate-approves-first-2018-spending-package/|title=Senate approves first 2019 spending package|date=September 12, 2018|work=The Hill|first=Ian|last=Swanson|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=December 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203011633/https://thehill.com/policy/finance/406401-senate-approves-first-2018-spending-package|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, Leahy, along with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman [[Bob Corker]], ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee [[Bob Menendez]], and [[Lindsey Graham]], sent President Trump a letter requesting that he begin an investigation of the disappearance of Saudi journalist [[Jamal Khashoggi]], under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The letter asked Trump to report the findings within 120 days, along with a decision on whether to impose sanctions on those found responsible.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/410865-senators-force-trump-to-investigate-disappearance-of-saudi-journalist/|title=Senators trigger law forcing Trump to probe Saudi journalist's disappearance|date=October 10, 2018|work=The Hill|first=Rebecca|last=Kheel|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925173636/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/410865-senators-force-trump-to-investigate-disappearance-of-saudi-journalist|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, Leahy was one of eight senators to sign a letter to [[Director of National Intelligence]] [[Dan Coats]] requesting a classified briefing on what the American intelligence community knew about threats to Khashoggi, so that the senators may fulfill their "oversight obligation" as members of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/413958-dem-senators-request-classified-briefing-on-khashoggi/|title=Dem senators request classified briefing on Khashoggi|date=October 30, 2018|work=The Hill|first=Jordain|last=Carney|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126232847/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/413958-dem-senators-request-classified-briefing-on-khashoggi|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2019, Leahy was one of nine Democratic senators to sign a letter to [[Salman of Saudi Arabia]] requesting the release of human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair and writer Raif Badawi, women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul and Samar Badawi, and Dr. Walid Fitaih. The senators wrote, "Not only have reputable international organizations detailed the arbitrary detention of peaceful activists and dissidents without trial for long periods, but the systematic discrimination against women, religious minorities and mistreatment of migrant workers and others has also been well-documented."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434752-senate-dems-petition-saudi-king-to-release-dissidents-us-citizen/|title=Senate Dems petition Saudi king to release dissidents, US citizen|first=Zack|last=Budryk|date=March 19, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918151704/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434752-senate-dems-petition-saudi-king-to-release-dissidents-us-citizen|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2018, after [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo]] announced the Trump administration would suspend its obligations in the [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty]] in 60 days, if Russia continued to violate the treaty, Leahy was one of 26 senators to sign a letter expressing concern over the administration's "now abandoning generations of bipartisan U.S. leadership around the paired goals of reducing the global role and number of nuclear weapons and ensuring strategic stability with America's nuclear-armed adversaries" and calling on President Trump to continue arms negotiations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/421307-senate-dems-urge-trump-to-continue-nuclear-arms-control-negotiations-after/|title=Senate Dems urge Trump to continue nuclear arms control negotiations after treaty suspension|date=December 13, 2018|first=Ellen|last=Mitchell|work=The Hill|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125163603/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/421307-senate-dems-urge-trump-to-continue-nuclear-arms-control-negotiations-after|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Minnesota Representative [[Rick Nolan]] retired from Congress in 2019, Leahy became the only remaining [[Watergate Babies|Watergate baby]] in Congress.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Lundy|first1=John|date=February 9, 2018|title=Nolan won't seek re-election|language=en|website=Duluth News Tribune|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4401206-nolan-wont-seek-re-election|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804165853/https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4401206-nolan-wont-seek-re-election|url-status=live}}</ref>

Leahy endorsed fellow Vermont Senator [[Bernie Sanders]]'s [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|2020 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/430627-leahy-endorses-sanders-for-president/|title=Leahy endorses Sanders for president|last=Burke|first=Michael|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=February 19, 2019|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219201725/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/430627-leahy-endorses-sanders-for-president|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2021, [[Politico|POLITICO]] reported that Leahy was "leaning toward [running for a ninth term]" and asking his Senate colleagues for support.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Everett|first1=Burgess|last2=Levine|first2=Marianne|date=October 16, 2013|title=Patrick Leahy signals he'll run for ninth Senate term|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/22/patrick-leahy-senate-run-490176|work=POLITICO|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522211023/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/22/patrick-leahy-senate-run-490176|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 15, 2021, Leahy announced that he was not running for a ninth term. Upon the death of Representative [[Don Young]] on March 18, 2022, Leahy became the longest-serving current member of Congress.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Estepa |first1=Jessica |title=Alaska's Don Young to become most senior member of Congress after Conyers' retirement |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/12/05/alaskas-don-young-become-longest-serving-member-congress-after-conyers-retirement/922937001/ |website=usatoday.com |publisher=Gannett |access-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331212937/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/12/05/alaskas-don-young-become-longest-serving-member-congress-after-conyers-retirement/922937001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy's last term ended in January 2023, and he was succeeded by [[Peter Welch]];<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kinzel |first1=Bob |last2=Wertlieb |first2=Mitch |last3=Anderson |first3=Karen |date=January 3, 2023 |title=One last look back at Patrick Leahy's 48 years in the U.S. Senate |url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2023-01-03/one-last-look-back-at-patrick-leahys-48-years-in-the-u-s-senate |work=Vermont Public Radio |location=Colchester, VT |access-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223125526/https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2023-01-03/one-last-look-back-at-patrick-leahys-48-years-in-the-u-s-senate |url-status=live }}</ref> he was the last [[List of former United States senators|United States senator]] to have served in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finn |first1=Teaganne |last2=Fulton |first2=Jacob |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Sen. Patrick Leahy announces he won't run for re-election |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-patrick-leahy-announces-he-won-t-run-re-election-n1283870 |access-date=July 8, 2023 |publisher=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>{{efn|[[Chuck Grassley]] and [[Ed Markey]], whose senate service continued after Leahy's, were members of the U.S. House in the 1970s.}}

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit|Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support|Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms|Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]] (chair)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-democrats-elect-chuck-schumer-as-their-new-leader/|title=Senate Democrats elect Chuck Schumer as their new leader|publisher=CBS News|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119195425/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-democrats-elect-chuck-schumer-as-their-new-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration|Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property|Subcommittee on Intellectual Property]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts|Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]

===Nomination for UN General Assembly===
In September 2022, Leahy was nominated as a representative of the United States to the [[Seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2586?s=1&r=46|title=PN2586—Patrick Leahy—United Nations, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|date=September 8, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|website=U.S. Congress|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910052208/https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2586?s=1&r=46|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political positions==
{{recentism|section|date=March 2021}}
[[File:Patrick Leahy DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|Leahy speaking during the second day of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver, Colorado]]]]

Leahy has held [[progressivism|progressive]] political positions that are generally in line with those of the state.

===Abortion===
Leahy has supported [[United States abortion-rights movement|abortion rights]], rejecting proposals to limit minors or those stationed on military bases from having the procedure performed. He voted against the [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]] in 1995 and for it between 1997 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00402|title=108th Congress, 1st Session: On the Conference Report (S. 3 Conference Report)|publisher=United States Senate|website=senate.gov|year=2003|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001235535/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00402|archive-date=October 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161024025027/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Vermont/Patrick_Leahy/Views/Abortion/ Views and voting record regarding abortion]}}; ''The Political Guide''; 2016</ref>

On March 11, 1982, Leahy voted against a measure sponsored by [[Orrin Hatch]] that sought to reverse ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and allow Congress and individual states to adopt laws banning abortions. Its passing was the first time a congressional committee supported an anti-abortion amendment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/11/us/abortion-curbs-endorsed-10-7-by-senate-panel.html|title=Abortion Curbs Endorsed, 10–7, By Senate Panel|date=March 11, 1982|page=A1|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927160058/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/11/us/abortion-curbs-endorsed-10-7-by-senate-panel.html|archive-date=September 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/28/magazine/howard-baker-trying-to-tame-an-unruly-senate.html|title=Howard Baker Trying to Tame an Unruly Senate|date=March 28, 1982|page=17 (New York Times Magazine)|work=The New York Times|first=Martin|last=Tolchin|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927222009/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/28/magazine/howard-baker-trying-to-tame-an-unruly-senate.html|archive-date=September 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
In 2019, Leahy worked with Senators [[Sherrod Brown]], [[Susan Collins (politician)|Susan Collins]], and [[David Perdue]] on a bipartisan effort to ensure students have access to local foods. The proposal would bolster the Farm to School Grant Program, administered by the Agriculture Department, and raise the program's authorized level from $5 million to $15 million, in addition to furthering the maximum grant award to $250,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Collins-joins-two-party-push-for-more-local-food-in-schools-512543211.html|title=Collins joins two-party push for more local food in schools|date=July 10, 2019|work=[[WABI-TV]]|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806041941/https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Collins-joins-two-party-push-for-more-local-food-in-schools-512543211.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2019, Leahy was one of 38 senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Agriculture Secretary]] [[Sonny Perdue]] warning that dairy farmers "have continued to face market instability and are struggling to survive the fourth year of sustained low prices", and urging his department to "strongly encourage these farmers to consider the Dairy Margin Coverage program".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-on-trump-administration-to-implement-farm-bill-dairy-improvements-for-wisconsin-dairy-farmers/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Trump Administration to Implement Farm Bill Dairy Improvements for Wisconsin Dairy Farmers|date=April 1, 2019|work=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111174332/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-on-trump-administration-to-implement-farm-bill-dairy-improvements-for-wisconsin-dairy-farmers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2019, Leahy and eight other Democratic senators sent Perdue a letter that criticized the USDA for using farm bailout money to purchase pork from the Brazilian-owned [[JBS S.A.|JBS USA]], writing that it was "counterproductive and contradictory" for foreign companies to receive "U.S. taxpayer dollars intended to help American farmers struggling with this administration's trade policy". The senators requested that the department "ensure these commodity purchases are carried out in a manner that most benefits the American farmer's bottom line—not the business interests of foreign corporations."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/446118-dem-senators-tell-trump-administration-to-halt-trade-aid-to-foreign-firms/|title=Democratic senators rip Trump administration's trade aid to foreign firms, demand a halt|first=Sylvia|last=Lane|date=May 30, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708134527/https://thehill.com/policy/finance/446118-dem-senators-tell-trump-administration-to-halt-trade-aid-to-foreign-firms|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2019, Leahy and 18 other Democratic senators sent USDA Inspector General (IG), Phyllis K. Fong, a letter requesting that she investigate USDA instances of retaliation and political decision-making, and arguing that to not conduct an investigation would mean these "actions could be perceived as a part of this administration's broader pattern of not only discounting the value of federal employees, but suppressing, undermining, discounting, and wholesale ignoring scientific data produced by their own qualified scientists."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/menendez-booker-join-call-investigation-usda-amid-reports-scientific-data-suppression/|title=Menendez, Booker Join Call for Investigation at USDA amid Reports of Scientific Data Suppression|website=insidernj.com|date=June 26, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626212130/https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/menendez-booker-join-call-investigation-usda-amid-reports-scientific-data-suppression/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Antitrust, competition, and corporate regulation===
In June 2019, Leahy was one of six Democrats, led by [[Amy Klobuchar]], who signed letters to the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) and the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] recounting that many of them had "called on both the FTC and the Justice Department to investigate potential anticompetitive activity in these markets, particularly following the significant enforcement actions taken by foreign competition enforcers against these same companies", and requesting that each agency confirm whether it had opened antitrust investigations into each of the companies and that each agency pledge to publicly release any such investigation's findings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/449754-senate-dems-press-regulators-over-reported-tech-investigations/|title=Senate Democrats press regulators over reported tech investigations|first=Harper|last=Neidig|date=June 21, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=July 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713130941/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/449754-senate-dems-press-regulators-over-reported-tech-investigations|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cannabis===
Leahy supports states' rights to make their own [[cannabis]] laws. He proposed a companion to the [[Rohrabacher–Farr amendment|Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment]], which would extend protections to states that have legalized cannabis in some form. It became known as the Leahy Amendment, and prevents the federal government from spending federal tax dollars to prosecute people who are following their state's cannabis laws.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/21/washingtons-most-powerful-anti-pot-official-is-named-sessions-its-not-who-you-think-217662/|title=Washington's Most Powerful Anti-Pot Official Is Named Sessions. It's Not Who You Think.|work=Politico Magazine|first=James|last=Higdon|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092905/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/21/washingtons-most-powerful-anti-pot-official-is-named-sessions-its-not-who-you-think-217662|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://digital.vpr.net/post/leahy-trump-administration-dont-threaten-states-legalize-marijuana#stream/0|title=Leahy To Trump Administration: Don't Threaten States That Legalize Marijuana|last=Kinzel|first=Bob|work=[[Vermont Public Radio]]|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092824/http://digital.vpr.net/post/leahy-trump-administration-dont-threaten-states-legalize-marijuana#stream/0|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Child care===
In 2019, Leahy was one of 35 senators to have introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, a bill that created 770,000 new child care jobs and ensured that families making less than 75 percent of the state median income did not pay for child care, with higher earning families having to pay "their fair share for care on a sliding scale, regardless of the number of children they have". The legislation also supported universal access to high-quality preschool programs for all three- and four-year-olds, changed compensation for the child care workforce, and provided training to aid both teachers and caregivers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-child-care-for-all/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Child Care for All|date=March 1, 2019|work=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001043955/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-child-care-for-all/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===China===
In a September 12, 2019, press release, Leahy condemned the [[Persecution of Falun Gong|persecution]] of [[Falun Gong]] practitioners in [[China]] and contended that Falun Gong is a threat to the survival of the [[Chinese Communist Party]]. He also argued that the Chinese government should commit to ending the use of torture, organ harvesting of prisoners, and propaganda against minorities.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-falun-gong-congressional-record|title=Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Falun Gong Congressional Record|date=September 12, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906204333/https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-falun-gong-congressional-record|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Civil justice===
[[File:Leahy Meets with SCOTUS Nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland 02.jpg|thumb|Senator Leahy with Circuit Judge [[Merrick Garland]], March 2016]]

In February 2016, Leahy introduced the "Restoring Statutory Rights Act",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s2506is/pdf/BILLS-114s2506is.pdf|title=To restore statutory rights to the people of the United States from forced arbitration|publisher=US Senate|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704215641/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s2506is/pdf/BILLS-114s2506is.pdf|archive-date=July 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> to "prevent companies from imposing forced arbitration in cases covered by consumer protection laws, as well as employment discrimination and other civil rights matters".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consumerreports.org/consumer-protection/proposed-law-will-supersede-mandatory-arbitration |title=Proposed Law Would Roll Back Mandatory Arbitration |last=Walker |first=Mandy |date=February 9, 2016 |work=Consumer Reports |access-date=January 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054058/https://www.consumerreports.org/consumer-protection/proposed-law-will-supersede-mandatory-arbitration/ |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/020316%20Restoring%20Statutory%20Rights%20from%20Forced%20Arbitration%20bill%20intro%20stmt%20FINAL.pdf|title=Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy|first=Patrick|last=Leahy|publisher=US Senate|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109005752/http://www.leahy.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/020316%20Restoring%20Statutory%20Rights%20from%20Forced%20Arbitration%20bill%20intro%20stmt%20FINAL.pdf|archive-date=November 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Civil rights and privacy===
Leahy has been supported by the [[NAACP]] and is outspoken in his support for [[affirmative action]]. He has supported the legalization of [[gay marriage]] and reducing [[discrimination against LGBTQ people|discrimination against gays and lesbians]]. Leahy has called for the [[domestic partnership|domestic partners]] of federal employees to receive the same benefits as [[heterosexual]] couples.<ref name=OTI>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Patrick_Leahy.htm |title=Patrick Leahy on the Issues |work=[[On the Issues]] |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828144310/http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Patrick_Leahy.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Leahy is a lead sponsor of the Senate version of the [[Email Privacy Act]], which would reform the [[Electronic Communications Privacy Act]] of 1986 and enhance privacy protections for email. He sponsored this bipartisan bill with Republican [[Mike Lee]] of Utah.<ref>{{cite web|first=Amir|last=Nasr|url=https://morningconsult.com/alert/leahy-lee-call-senate-act-ecpa-reform/|title=Lee, Leahy Call on Senate to Take Up House-Passed Email Privacy Bill|work=[[Morning Consult]]|date=April 27, 2016|access-date=May 2, 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821114845/https://morningconsult.com/alert/leahy-lee-call-senate-act-ecpa-reform/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Dawn|last=Kawamoto|url=http://www.informationweek.com/government/email-privacy-act-wins-sweeping-approval-in-house/d/d-id/1325312|title=Email Privacy Act Wins Sweeping Approval In House|work=[[InformationWeek]]|date=April 28, 2016|access-date=May 2, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801020744/https://www.informationweek.com/government/email-privacy-act-wins-sweeping-approval-in-house/d/d-id/1325312|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Criminal justice===
Leahy has called for a [[moratorium (law)|moratorium]] on the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]] and for more [[DNA]] testing for [[death row]] inmates. He supports rehabilitation as the goal of prisons and providing treatment, instead of punishment, for first-time offenders.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In February 2015, Leahy and Republican [[Rand Paul]] revived the Justice Safety Valve Act, legislation granting federal judges authority to bestow sentences lower than the mandatory punishment in certain cases, where the sentence violates standards for fair punishment as defined elsewhere in American law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/231775-rand-paul-revives-mandatory-sentencing-reform-bill/|title=Rand Paul revives mandatory sentencing reform bill|first=David|last=McCabe|date=February 4, 2015|work=The Hill|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208183731/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/231775-rand-paul-revives-mandatory-sentencing-reform-bill|archive-date=December 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2017, Leahy cosponsored a bill aimed at easing sentences for some nonviolent offenders, such as for drug crimes, while beefing up other tough-on-crime laws. The bill would have abolished the three-strike mandatory life sentence for some repeat drug offenders and authorized enhanced penalties for some individuals with previous convictions for serious violent and drug felonies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/04/senate-bipartisan-bill-criminal-justice-reform-243455|title=Senators unveil bipartisan criminal justice reform package|first=Seung Min|last=Kim|date=October 4, 2017|work=Politico|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222000227/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/04/senate-bipartisan-bill-criminal-justice-reform-243455|archive-date=December 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 31, 2019, after Attorney General [[William Barr]] announced that the federal government would resume carrying out the death penalty, for the first time in over 20 years, Leahy, [[Cory Booker]], and [[Dick Durbin]] introduced a bill that would ban the death penalty. Leahy said capital punishment fails "by any objective measure", citing its finality and juries' propensity to mistakenly convict.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/455597-senate-dems-introduce-bill-to-ban-death-penalty/|title=Booker, Durbin and Leahy introduce bill to ban death penalty|first=Tal|last=Axelrod|date=July 31, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205054805/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/455597-senate-dems-introduce-bill-to-ban-death-penalty|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Defense===
Leahy was a longtime critic of the [[Iraq War]], and spoke in favor of timetables for troop withdrawal, saying the country needs well-trained employees in both foreign service and private industry to help repair damage to its civilian structure. He has been critical of the [[PATRIOT Act]], even though he has voted to reauthorize altered versions of it.<ref name=OTI/> In June 2013, following the disclosure of [[PRISM (surveillance program)|PRISM]] and other covert surveillance activities by the [[National Security Agency]], Leahy introduced a bill that would tighten guidelines related to the acquisition of [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act|FISA]] warrants for domestic surveillance and shorten the current FISA authorization by two years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/24/leahy-proposes-new-oversight-of-surveillance-programs/|title=Leahy proposes new oversight of surveillance programs|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=June 24, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625014257/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/24/leahy-proposes-new-oversight-of-surveillance-programs/|archive-date=June 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Leahy has always opposed the opening and operation of the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]],<ref name=BrattleboroReformer2013-05-18>
{{cite news
| url          = http://www.reformer.com/news/ci_23271978/letter-box
| title        = Leahy responds to Gitmo criticism
| publisher    = [[Brattleboro Reformer]]
| first        = Patrick
| last         = Leahy
| date         = May 18, 2013
| archive-date = May 19, 2013
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130519001302/http://www.reformer.com/news/ci_23271978/letter-box
| url-status   = live
| quote        = Mr. Evers and I agree that the status quo at Guantanamo is unacceptable. I was one of few in the Senate who strongly opposed the decision to open the prison a decade ago, and I continue to believe that the prison at Guantanamo must be closed. Mr. Evers apparently missed it, but my most recent statement about the need to close Guantanamo, two weeks ago, is on my website for all to see at leahy.senate.gov/press/gitmo. As I said in that statement, the Guantanamo prison is not necessary to keep America safe, it contradicts our most basic principles of justice, and it undermines our national security.
}}</ref><ref name=LeahySenateGitmo>
{{cite news
| url          = https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/gitmo
| title        = Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Committee On The Judiciary, On The President's Remarks Tuesday On Guantanamo Bay
| publisher    = Office of Senator Patrick Leahy
| website      = leahy.senate.gov
| first        = Patrick
| last         = Leahy
| date         = April 30, 2013
| archive-date = March 1, 2014
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140301220449/http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/gitmo
| url-status   = live
| quote        = Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Tuesday after President Barack Obama reiterated his position that the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, should be closed—a view that Leahy has long shared.
}}</ref> and supported punishment of [[war profiteering]].<ref>Congress.gov, [https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/119 S.119 – War Profiteering Prevention Act of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206063545/https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/119 |date=December 6, 2020 }}, 110th Congress (2007–2008), introduced into Senate on April 1, 2007, accessed February 12, 2021</ref>

===Economy===
On taxation, Leahy has consistently supported [[progressive taxation|progressive]] rates. He has rejected proposals to remove the [[estate tax]] and [[alternative minimum tax]], and he has spoken out strongly against cutting taxes for the wealthy. Leahy has strongly supported the rights of employees, and has voted to increase the minimum wage and allow for more [[labor union|union]] organization. He has voted against a [[free trade]] proposal, [[Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement|CAFTA]], but supported normalizing trade relations with [[China]].<ref name=OTI/>

===Environment===
Leahy has been a strong supporter of environmental policy. He has supported bills that would increase [[hydrogen car]] production, uphold [[Corporate Average Fuel Economy]] standards, set a goal of reducing oil consumption by 40 percent in 2025, and increase [[solar power|solar]] and [[wind power]] funding.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

===Climate change===
In 2011, Leahy voted against limiting EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00054|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress – 1st Session: On the Amendment (McConnell Amdt. No. 183)|website=senate.gov|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022102753/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00054|archive-date=October 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, he voted against a concurrent resolution creating a point of order which would make it harder for Congress to put a [[carbon price|price on carbon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vis.org/toolbox/VoteDetail.aspx?vid=15678|title=Detail for 2013 Senate Roll Call Vote 59 {{!}} Voter Information Services – vote wisely, live better|website=vis.org|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124032433/https://www.vis.org/toolbox/VoteDetail.aspx?vid=15678|archive-date=January 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00059|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress – 1st Session: On the Motion (Motion to Waive CBA Re: Blunt Amdt. No. 261)|website=senate.gov|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022102757/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00059|archive-date=October 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, he voted in support of Obama's [[Clean Power Plan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00307#top|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress – 1st Session: On the Joint Resolution (S.J.Res. 23)|website=senate.gov|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109030158/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00307#top|archive-date=November 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On his Climate Change page, he states that "human activity, since the Industrial Revolution, has contributed, in large part, to the changes in climate."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/issues/climate-change|title=Climate Change|publisher=Office Senator Patrick Leahy|website=leahy.senate.gov|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108222355/https://www.leahy.senate.gov/issues/climate-change|archive-date=November 8, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> He has supported the establishment of [[greenhouse gas]] [[Emissions trading|tradeable allowances]] and has spoken out against the use of [[ethanol]] as a solution to rising gasoline prices.<ref name="OTI" />

In June 2017, after President Trump announced the US would withdraw from the [[Paris Agreement]], Leahy called the move a "great leap backward", adding that pandering "to a handful of billionaires and special interests would impose huge harm upon our generation, upon future generations, and upon our fragile planet." He said he intended "to ensure that this stroke of the president's pen does not derail Vermonters' hard work and leadership to protect our communities from [[climate risk]], and that it does not deter the entrepreneurs and innovators in Vermont and other states who are expanding the world markets for the clean green energy and conservation technologies that will shape our future."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/01/vt-delegation-climate-decision-travesty-disgrace-stunning-rejection-science/363270001/|title=Vt. officials: Climate decision 'travesty', 'disgrace', 'stunning rejection of science'|date=June 1, 2017|work=[[The Burlington Free Press]]|access-date=October 8, 2020}}</ref>

In February 2019, in response to reports that the EPA intended to decide against setting limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and [[perfluorooctanoic acid]] (PFOA) in drinking water, as part of an upcoming national strategy to manage the chemicals, Leahy was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Acting EPA Administrator, [[Andrew R. Wheeler]], calling on the agency "to develop enforceable federal drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, as well as institute immediate actions to protect the public from contamination from additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/428102-senators-call-on-epa-to-restrict-key-drinking-water-contaminants/|title=Senators call on EPA to restrict key drinking water contaminants|date=February 1, 2019|first=Timothy|last=Cama|work=The Hill|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225232823/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/428102-senators-call-on-epa-to-restrict-key-drinking-water-contaminants|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Pipelines===
In October 2016, Leahy was one of five senators to sign a letter to President Obama requesting that the administration halt work on the [[Dakota Access Pipeline]], until the permitting process of the Army Corps could "be transparent and include public notice and participation, formal and meaningful tribal consultation, and adequate environmental review", and stating their support for the "tribes along the pipeline route in their fight against the Dakota Access pipeline project".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/300775-sanders-dem-senators-press-obama-to-halt-nd-pipeline/|title=Sanders, Dem senators press Obama to halt ND pipeline|first=Devin|last=Henry|date=October 13, 2016|work=The Hill|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127110442/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/300775-sanders-dem-senators-press-obama-to-halt-nd-pipeline|archive-date=November 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===First Amendment===
Leahy spoke strongly against a proposed constitutional ban on [[flag burning]] and on its implications for [[freedom of speech]] and expression. He rejects [[school prayer]] initiatives.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tolchin|first=Martin|title=Close Senate Vote Expected on Prayer in Schools|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/20/us/close-senate-vote-expected-on-prayer-in-schools.html|work=The New York Times|date=March 20, 1984|page=A19|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130180937/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/20/us/close-senate-vote-expected-on-prayer-in-schools.html|archive-date=January 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Gun control===
Leahy has supported [[gun control]], including requiring background checks at gun shows and allowing for lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. He voted in favor of prohibiting foreign and UN aid that inhibits gun ownership.<ref name=OTI/>

In January 2019, Leahy was one of 40 senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms, including unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bill's background check requirement included transfers between members of law enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events on a temporary basis, giving firearms to members of one's immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to another person temporarily for immediate self-defense.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-background-check-expansion-act-to-reduce-gun-violence/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence|date=January 9, 2019|work=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626032111/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-background-check-expansion-act-to-reduce-gun-violence/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2019, Leahy was one of 38 senators to sign a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman [[Lindsey Graham]] calling on him to "hold a hearing" on universal background checks and noting Graham's statement in the press that he "intended to have the Committee work on 'red flag' legislation and potentially also background checks, both actions" the senators indicated their support for.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/432899-senate-dems-call-for-hearing-on-universal-background-checks-bill/|title=Senate Dems call for hearing on universal background checks bill|first=Tal|last=Axelrod|date=March 6, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923075638/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/432899-senate-dems-call-for-hearing-on-universal-background-checks-bill|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Health care===
Leahy has stated the importance of increasing the prevalence of public [[health care]], during times of economic downturn. He voted to increase [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] benefits and to allow this organization to negotiate lower-priced, bulk prescriptions from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Leahy has broken with Democratic leadership in supporting allowing states to make bulk drug purchases on their own, an idea he has characterized as an important short-term solution until Congress can agree on a similar proposal.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In a May 2012 speech on the Senate floor, Leahy advocated that Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: "The conservative activism of recent years has not been good for the court. Given the ideological challenge to the Affordable Care Act and the extensive, supportive precedent, it would be extraordinary for the Supreme Court not to defer to Congress in this matter that so clearly affects interstate commerce."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/15/politics/health-care-reform/index.html|title=Leahy urges high court to 'do the right thing', keep health care law|first=Bill|last=Mears|date=May 15, 2012|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009023015/https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/15/politics/health-care-reform/index.html|archive-date=October 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2017, after House Republicans withdrew the [[American Health Care Act]], Leahy released a statement touting the accomplishments of the Affordable Care Act and charging Republicans with trying to undo the record with a bill that was really "a massive tax cut for the wealthiest Americans".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/24/welch-sanders-and-leahy-respond-defeat-health-care-bill/99595480/|title=Welch, Sanders and Leahy respond to defeat of health care bill|date=March 24, 2017|work=USA Today|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213024552/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/24/welch-sanders-and-leahy-respond-defeat-health-care-bill/99595480/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2017, Leahy was one of 16 senators to co-sponsor the Medicare for All Act, introduced by his fellow Vermont Senator [[Bernie Sanders]], which would establish a single-payer healthcare system in the United States.

In December 2018, Leahy was one of 42 senators to sign a letter to Trump administration officials [[Alex Azar]], [[Seema Verma]], and [[Steve Mnuchin]] arguing that the administration was improperly using Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act to authorize states to "increase health care costs for millions of consumers while weakening protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions". The senators requested the administration withdraw the policy and "re-engage with stakeholders, states, and Congress".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-on-trump-administration-to-stop-pushing-health-insurance-plans-that-weaken-pre-existing-condition-protections/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Trump Administration to Stop Pushing Health Insurance Plans that Weaken Pre-Existing Condition Protections|date=December 20, 2018|work=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117122353/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-on-trump-administration-to-stop-pushing-health-insurance-plans-that-weaken-pre-existing-condition-protections/|archive-date=January 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2019, Leahy and 22 other Democratic senators introduced the State Public Option Act, a bill that would authorize states to form a Medicaid buy-in program for all residents and thereby grant them the ability to buy into a state-driven Medicaid health insurance plan if they wished. [[Brian Schatz]], a bill cosponsor, said the legislation would "unlock each state's Medicaid program to anyone who wants it, giving people a high-quality, low-cost public health insurance option" and that its goal was "to make sure that every single American has comprehensive health care coverage".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-reintroduce-legislation-to-create-state-public-health-care-option/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Reintroduce Legislation to Create State Public Health Care Option|date=February 15, 2019|work=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128091719/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-reintroduce-legislation-to-create-state-public-health-care-option/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Immigration===
In February 2018, after the Supreme Court declined to immediately consider the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] program, Leahy said that Congress should have acted on immigration reform the previous year, and urged Congress to act, while admitting the Supreme Court decision had reduced pressure to pass legislation quickly.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/26/politics/daca-supreme-court-congress/index.html|title=Court takes pressure off already sputtering Congress on DACA|date=February 26, 2018|publisher=CNN|first=Tal|last=Kopan|author-link=Tal Kopan|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328071505/https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/26/politics/daca-supreme-court-congress/index.html|archive-date=March 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2018, Leahy, [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], and [[Joni Ernst]] wrote a letter to [[United States Secretary of Defense|Defense Secretary]] [[James Mattis]] saying they were "deeply troubled by the department's decision to send 21 active and reserve JAGs to the border on temporary orders to prosecute immigration cases", expressing the view that dispatching "twenty-one trial counsel from military courtrooms to prosecute immigration cases is an inappropriate misapplication of military personnel", and urging Mattis to maintain the military lawyers within the military justice system.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/393615-senators-deeply-troubled-military-lawyers-being-used-for-immigrations-cases/|title=Senators 'deeply troubled' military lawyers being used for immigration cases|date=June 22, 2018|first=Rebecca|last=Kheel|work=The Hill|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119011059/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/393615-senators-deeply-troubled-military-lawyers-being-used-for-immigrations-cases|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2018, Leahy was one of 17 senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Homeland Security Secretary]] [[Kirstjen Nielsen]] demanding that the Trump administration take immediate action in attempting to reunite 539 migrant children with their families, citing each passing day of inaction as intensifying "trauma that this administration has needlessly caused for children and their families seeking humanitarian protection".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/401999-senate-democrats-demand-immediate-reunification-of-remaining-separated/|title=Senate Dems demand immediate reunification of remaining separated children|first=Nathaniel|last=Weixel|date=August 15, 2018|work=The Hill|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128034920/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/401999-senate-democrats-demand-immediate-reunification-of-remaining-separated|archive-date=November 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2018, after nearly $10 million of the Federal Emergency Management Agency budget was transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Leahy said in a statement, "I am hopeful that the administration will see the consequences of its actions and begin to work with Republicans AND Democrats to actually address the problems in our immigration system. Fomenting fears against immigrants is not governing—it's demagoguery on the taxpayer's dime. It needs to stop now."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/12/politics/fema-ice-funding-hurricane-florence/index.html|title=FEMA says funding transferred to ICE for detention centers won't harm hurricane response|date=September 12, 2018|publisher=CNN|first1=Betsy|last1=Klein|first2=Tal|last2=Kopan|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913231949/https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/12/politics/fema-ice-funding-hurricane-florence/index.html|archive-date=September 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2019, Leahy was one of 20 senators to sponsor the Dreamer Confidentiality Act, a bill banning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from passing information collected on DACA recipients to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Justice, or any other law enforcement agency with exceptions in the case of fraudulent claims, national security issues, or non-immigration related felonies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/426478-senate-dems-introduces-bill-to-keep-daca-info-private/|title=Senate Dems introduces bill to keep DACA info private|date=January 22, 2019|first=Rafael|last=Bernal|work=The Hill|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123071429/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/426478-senate-dems-introduces-bill-to-keep-daca-info-private|archive-date=January 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2019, following reports that the Trump administration intended to cease protecting spouses, parents and children of active-duty service members from deportation, Leahy was one of 22 senators, led by [[Tammy Duckworth]], to sign a letter arguing that the protection gave service members the ability "to fight for the United States overseas and not worry that their spouse, children, or parents will be deported while they are away" and that its termination would both cause service members personal hardship and negatively affect their combat performance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wset.com/news/nation-world/senate-democrats-to-trump-dont-deport-military-families|title=Senate Democrats to Trump: don't deport military families|first=Ida|last=Domingo|date=July 11, 2019|work=[[WSET-TV]]|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930032731/https://wset.com/news/nation-world/senate-democrats-to-trump-dont-deport-military-families|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Internet privacy===
In April 2017, after President Trump signed a law undoing a Federal Communications Commission rule requiring internet service providers to obtain their customers' permission to sell their data to advertisers, Leahy was one of 11 senators to sponsor legislation undoing the repeal and reinstating the regulations.<ref name="privacy">{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/327652-senate-dems-want-to-reinstate-privacy-rules/|title=Senate Dems offer bill to restore internet privacy rules|first=Harper|last=Nedig|date=April 6, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015731/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/327652-senate-dems-want-to-reinstate-privacy-rules|archive-date=November 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Iran===
In May 2018, Leahy was one of 12 senators to sign a letter to Trump urging him not to withdraw from the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|Iran nuclear deal]], on the grounds that "Iran could either remain in the agreement and seek to isolate the United States from our closest partners, or resume its nuclear activities" if the U.S. pulled out and that both possibilities "would be detrimental to our national security interests".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/386604-senate-dems-urge-trump-to-remain-in-iran-deal-ahead-of-announcement/|title=Senate Dems urge Trump to remain in Iran deal ahead of announcement|date=May 7, 2018|work=The Hill|first=Brett|last=Samuels|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029112323/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/386604-senate-dems-urge-trump-to-remain-in-iran-deal-ahead-of-announcement|archive-date=October 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Israel===
Leahy has signed resolutions in support of [[Israel]]'s right to self-defense, but has also been critical of alleged human rights violations in the region, especially after the 2008 [[Operation Cast Lead]].

In 2011, Leahy initially promoted a bill to cut the military aid to three elite [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] units after reports of human rights violations during the [[2010 Gaza flotilla raid]] and in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.haaretz.com/u-s-senator-seeks-to-cut-aid-to-elite-idf-units-operating-in-west-bank-and-gaza-1.378800 | title=U.S. Senator Seeks to Cut Aid to Elite IDF Units Operating in West Bank and Gaza|first=Barak|last=Ravid|work=[[Haaretz]]|date=August 16, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404035947/http://www.haaretz.com/u-s-senator-seeks-to-cut-aid-to-elite-idf-units-operating-in-west-bank-and-gaza-1.378800 | archive-date=April 4, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2016, Leahy joined ten [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] members asking the State Department to investigate suspected human rights violations by [[Egypt]]ian and Israeli security forces, in particular citing claims of [[extrajudicial killings]] that could trigger the [[Leahy Law]], which can cause the suspension of American military aid to countries guilty of such abuses.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/patrick-leahy-senate-israel-egypt-state-221366 | title=Leahy asked State Department to investigate suspected Israeli human rights violations|first=Nahal|last=Toosi|work=Politico|date=March 29, 2016| access-date=March 30, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330050716/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/patrick-leahy-senate-israel-egypt-state-221366 | archive-date=March 30, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2019, after the Trump administration refused to distribute money to [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] "because of perceived intransigence on peace talks by the Palestinians and payments to the families of those who have attacked Israelis", Leahy was one of six Democratic senators to introduce a resolution restoring U.S. humanitarian aid to the West Bank and Gaza.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/6-democrats-introduce-senate-bill-to-restore-us-humanitarian-aid-to-palestinians/|title=Six Democrats introduce Senate bill to restore humanitarian aid to Palestinians|date=April 19, 2019|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108034739/https://www.timesofisrael.com/6-democrats-introduce-senate-bill-to-restore-us-humanitarian-aid-to-palestinians/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2020, Leahy voiced his opposition to Israel's plan to [[Proposed Israeli annexation of the West Bank|annex]] parts of the occupied [[Palestinian territories]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Democratic senators release letter warning Israel against annexation |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2020/05/democratic-senators-release-letter-warning-israel-against-annexation/ |work=Jewish Insider |date=May 21, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202001842/https://jewishinsider.com/2020/05/democratic-senators-release-letter-warning-israel-against-annexation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Opioids===
In March 2017, Leahy was one of 21 senators, led by [[Ed Markey]], to sign a letter to Senate Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] that said that 12% of adult Medicaid beneficiaries had some form of a substance abuse disorder, that one-third of treatment for opioid and other substance use disorders in the U.S. is financed by Medicaid, and that the [[American Health Care Act]] could "very literally translate into a death spiral for those with opioid use disorders" due to inadequate funding, often resulting in individuals abandoning substance use disorder treatment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/baldwin-democratic-senators-call-trumpcare-disastrous-for-battle-against-opioid-crisis/|title=Baldwin, Democratic Senators Call TrumpCare Disastrous for Battle Against Opioid Crisis|date=March 21, 2017|work=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024211756/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/baldwin-democratic-senators-call-trumpcare-disastrous-for-battle-against-opioid-crisis/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===LGBTQIA+ issues===
In October 2018, Leahy was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] urging him to reverse the rolling back of a policy that granted visas to same-sex partners of LGBTQIA+ diplomats who had unions that were not recognized by their home countries, writing that too many places around the world have seen LGBTQIA+ individuals "subjected to discrimination and unspeakable violence, and receive little or no protection from the law or local authorities", and that refusing to let LGBTQIA+ diplomats bring their partners to the US would be equivalent of upholding "the discriminatory policies of many countries around the world".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/11/democratic-senators-lgbt-diplomats-894174|title=Democratic senators demand Pompeo reverse visa denials for LGBTQIA+ diplomats' partners|first=Jesus|last=Rodriguez|date=October 11, 2018|work=Politico|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209125652/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/11/democratic-senators-lgbt-diplomats-894174|url-status=live}}</ref> Leahy supported the Student Non-Discrimination Act and supported an LGBTQIA+-supportive amendment in the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act; the former addresses bullying based on gender identity and sexual orientation, while the latter prevents shelters from discriminating based on the same. Leahy claims that both of these issues disproportionately impact the LGBTQIA+ community.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-the-snda-amendment-to-the-every-child-achieves-act |title=Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy, On the SNDA amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224173355/https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-the-snda-amendment-to-the-every-child-achieves-act |archive-date=December 24, 2022 |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===North Korea===
In June 2018, Leahy was one of seven Democrats to sign a letter cautioning Trump that they would not support lifting sanctions against [[North Korea]] unless a nuclear agreement between it and the US met five standards outlined in the letter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/politics/north-korea-congress-reaction/index.html|title=Democrats warn Trump on North Korea deal|first=Ted|last=Barrett|date=June 4, 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040537/https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/politics/north-korea-congress-reaction/index.html|archive-date=November 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In a statement after the [[2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit|North Korea–United States summit]], Leahy commended Trump "for beginning direct negotiations" but added that it was troubling that Trump "agreed to unilaterally halt military exercises with South Korea without verifiable commitments from North Korea to denuclearize, while giving Kim the recognition he has long craved."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/06/13/trump-kim-summit-leahy-welch-doubtful-n-korean-denuclearization/697387002/|title=Trump-Kim summit: Leahy, Welch doubtful on N. Korean denuclearization|first=Aki|last=Soga|date=June 13, 2018|work=Burlington Free Press|access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref>

===Russia===
In December 2010, Leahy voted for the ratification of [[New START]],<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Memmott |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |title=Senate Ratifies START |work=[[NPR]] |date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331202810/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |url-status=live }}</ref> a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years, and providing for a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when [[START I]] expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|title=Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71–26|first=Peter|last=Baker|author-link=Peter Baker (journalist)|work=The New York Times|date=December 22, 2010|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223044444/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2017, Leahy was one of 11 senators to sign a letter to [[United States Attorney General]] [[Jeff Sessions]] expressing their concern "about credible allegations that the Trump campaign, transition team, and Administration has colluded with the Russian government, including most recently the events leading to the resignation of Lieutenant General [[Michael Flynn]] as National Security Adviser". The senators requested the creation of "an independent Special Counsel to investigate collusion with the Russian government by General Flynn and other Trump campaign, transition and Administrative officials", in order to maintain "the confidence, credibility and impartiality of the Department of Justice".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/319626-dem-senators-call-for-independent-flynn-probe/|title=Dem senators call for independent Flynn probe|date=February 15, 2017|first=Mark|last=Hensch|work=The Hill|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929021611/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/319626-dem-senators-call-for-independent-flynn-probe|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other issues===
Leahy has consistently voted to uphold [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and has opposed [[school voucher]]s.<ref name=OTI/>

Leahy supported [[Joe Biden]]'s plan to [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)|withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Biden sparks bipartisan backlash on Afghanistan withdrawal |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/548007-biden-sparks-bipartisan-backlash-on-afghanistan-withdrawal/ |work=The Hill |date=April 13, 2021 |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818193755/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/548007-biden-sparks-bipartisan-backlash-on-afghanistan-withdrawal |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
In 2013, Leahy received the annual U.S. Senator [[John Heinz]] Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official from the [[Jefferson Awards for Public Service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/tom-coburn-patrick-leahy-among-winners-of-jefferson-awards-93049.html|title=Coburn, Leahy among Jefferson winners|date=June 19, 2013|agency=Associated Press|website=Politico|access-date=August 5, 2013|archive-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220174834/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/tom-coburn-patrick-leahy-among-winners-of-jefferson-awards-93049.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, the Congressional Management Foundation awarded Leahy a "Silver Mouse Award" for his website, and a "Gold Mouse Award" for his engagement on social media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2014/04/28/leahy-nets-first-award-social-media-use-congress/|title=Leahy nets first award for social media use in Congress|website=Vermont Digger|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806031824/https://vtdigger.org/2014/04/28/leahy-nets-first-award-social-media-use-congress/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Leahy is the recipient of several [[honorary degree]]s, including:

*Saint Michael's College, [[Doctor of Laws|LL.D.]], 1976<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smcvt.edu/outcomes/alumni/alumni-profiles/patrick-leahy/ |title=Patrick Leahy '61 |website=Alumni Profiles |publisher=Saint Michael's College |location=Colchester, VT |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121020220/https://www.smcvt.edu/outcomes/alumni/alumni-profiles/patrick-leahy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Middlebury College]], LL.D., 2011<ref>{{cite news |date=May 23, 2011 |title=DOE JGI Director honored by Middlebury College |url=https://jgi.doe.gov/doe-jgi-director-honored-by-middlebury-college/ |work=News & Publications |publisher=U.S. department of Energy Joint Genome Institute |location=Berkeley, CA |access-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121020221/https://jgi.doe.gov/doe-jgi-director-honored-by-middlebury-college/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences|Albany College of Pharmacy]], [[Doctor of Science|D.Sc.]], 2013<ref>{{cite news |url=https://vtdigger.org/2013/05/16/leahy-to-address-first-class-to-graduate-from-albany-college-of-pharmacys-colchester-campus/ |title=Leahy to address first class to graduate from Albany College of Pharmacy's Colchester campus |date=May 16, 2013 |website=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121020226/https://vtdigger.org/2013/05/16/leahy-to-address-first-class-to-graduate-from-albany-college-of-pharmacys-colchester-campus/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Green Mountain College]], LL.D., 2014<ref>{{cite news |author=Free Press Staff |date=May 14, 2014 |title=Eight higher-ed commencements Saturday |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/education/2014/05/14/eight-higher-ed-commencements-saturday/9095901/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131642/https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/education/2014/05/14/eight-higher-ed-commencements-saturday/9095901/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[University of Portland]], [[Doctor of Public Service|D.P.S.]], 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy {{!}} University of Portland |url=https://www.up.edu/commencement/honorary-degrees/leahy.html |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=www.up.edu}}</ref>
After Leahy retired from the Senate in 2023, Mayor [[Miro Weinberger]] announced that [[Burlington International Airport]] would be renamed for Leahy. Leahy expressed gratitude following the announcement, saying, "I am gratified that the airport where I took my first flight as a teenager is now well-positioned for Vermont's future."<ref name=":03">{{cite web |last=Huntley |first=Katharine |date=April 3, 2023 |title=Burlington airport to be named for Leahy; State of the City expected to focus on public safety |url=https://www.wcax.com/2023/04/03/burlington-mayors-state-city-expected-focus-public-safety/?outputType=amp |accessdate=April 3, 2023 |website=[[WCAX]] |publisher=[[Gray Television]] |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405020116/https://www.wcax.com/2023/04/03/burlington-mayors-state-city-expected-focus-public-safety/?outputType=amp |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023 he was awarded an Honorary [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] from the [[British Government]] for services to UK/USA relations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary awards to foreign nationals in 2023 |date=2023 |publisher=Gov.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honorary-british-awards-to-foreign-nationals-2023/honorary-awards-to-foreign-nationals-in-2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Family===
Leahy married Marcelle Pomerleau in 1962.<ref name="Banner">{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 27, 2012 |title=Sen. Leahy and wife, Marcelle, celebrate 50 years |url=https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/sen-leahy-and-wife-marcelle-celebrate-50-years/article_848096c2-3c8b-5e0d-979c-8b56b9d84625.html |work=[[Bennington Banner]] |location=Bennington, VT |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022225822/https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/sen-leahy-and-wife-marcelle-celebrate-50-years/article_848096c2-3c8b-5e0d-979c-8b56b9d84625.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her parents, Louis Philippe Pomerleau and Cecile Bouchard Pomerleau, emigrated to the United States from [[Quebec]], and she is bilingual ([[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]]).<ref name="Perspective">{{cite news |last=Leahy |first=Patrick |date=June 25, 2013 |title=Leahy: A Vermonter's perspectives on immigration, family values and American values |url=https://vtdigger.org/2013/06/25/leahy-a-vermonters-perspectives-on-immigration-family-values-and-american-values/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130102319/https://vtdigger.org/2013/06/25/leahy-a-vermonters-perspectives-on-immigration-family-values-and-american-values/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The extended Pomerleau family established several successful Vermont businesses, and includes her uncle Antonio Pomerleau (d. 2018), a prominent real estate developer and philanthropist.<ref name="Perspective"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wertlieb |first1=Mitch |last2=Zind |first2=Steve |last3=Epp |first3=Henry |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Antonio Pomerleau, Vermont Philanthropist, Dies At 100 |url=https://www.vpr.org/post/antonio-pomerleau-vermont-philanthropist-dies-100#stream/0 |work=Vermont Public Radio |location=Colchester, VT |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131651/https://www.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2018-02-09/antonio-pomerleau-vermont-philanthropist-dies-at-100#stream/0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Marcelle Leahy graduated from the nursing school at [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]]'s former [[University of Vermont Medical Center#Hospital merger|DeGoesbriand Hospital]].<ref name="Banner"/> She is a registered nurse and has worked at hospitals in Burlington, Washington, D.C., and [[Arlington, Virginia]].<ref name="Perspective"/> The Leahys have resided in a farmhouse in [[Middlesex, Vermont]], since moving from Burlington, and have three children.<ref name="Banner"/> Their daughter Alicia is married to White House photographer [[Lawrence Jackson (photographer)|Lawrence Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Bill |date=April 21, 2021 |title=Photo of the day: Family chat |url=https://rollcall.com/2021/04/21/photo-of-the-day-family-chat/ |work=[[Roll Call]] |location=Washington, DC}}</ref> In 2012, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, with Leahy saying, "We hate it when we're apart from one another."<ref name="Banner"/> They celebrated their 60th anniversary in August 2022, which was acknowledged by [[Chuck Grassley]] when he offered a tribute to Leahy on the Senate floor in December.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/remarks/tribute-to-senator-patrick-leahy |title=Tribute to Senator Patrick Leahy, Senate President Pro Tempore |last=Grassley |first=Chuck |date=December 12, 2022 |website=Grasley.Senate.Gov |publisher=U.S. Senate |location=Washington, DC |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311162813/https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/remarks/tribute-to-senator-patrick-leahy |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Health===
On January 26, 2021, Leahy was hospitalized "out of an abundance of caution" after feeling ill. His hospitalization occurred hours after he had been sworn in as the presiding officer for Trump's second impeachment trial.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Axelrod|first1=Tal|date=January 26, 2021|title=Sen. Patrick Leahy Taken to Hospital|language=en|website=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535991-vermont-sen-patrick-leahy-taken-to-the-hospital/|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302070246/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535991-vermont-sen-patrick-leahy-taken-to-the-hospital|url-status=live}}</ref> He returned home later the same day.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Foran|first1=Clare|last2=Kelly|first2=Caroline|date=January 26, 2021|title=Sen. Patrick Leahy Home from Brief Hospitalization After Presiding Over Opening of Trump's Impeachment Trial|language=en|website=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/politics/patrick-leahy-hospital/index.html|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126232001/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/politics/patrick-leahy-hospital/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 29, 2022, Leahy fractured his hip after falling at his home in [[McLean, Virginia]]. He underwent hip replacement surgery the next day, and had a second operation related to his hip injury on July 19, 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://rollcall.com/2022/06/30/leahys-surgery-could-complicate-democratic-agenda/|title = Leahy recovering from hip replacement surgery|newspaper = [[Roll Call]]|date = June 30, 2022|accessdate = July 5, 2022|last = Lerman|first = David|archive-date = July 4, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220704023728/https://rollcall.com/2022/06/30/leahys-surgery-could-complicate-democratic-agenda/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.wcax.com/2022/07/20/leahy-returns-hospital-2nd-hip-operation/|title = Leahy returns to hospital for 2nd hip operation|work = [[WCAX]]|date = July 20, 2022|accessdate = July 20, 2022|archive-date = July 20, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220720134637/https://www.wcax.com/2022/07/20/leahy-returns-hospital-2nd-hip-operation/|url-status = live}}</ref>

Leahy was hospitalized again on October 13, 2022, after feeling unwell. He was kept overnight for "tests and observation" and discharged the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/article/vermont-patrick-leahy-congress-government-and-politics-ab08ad8f901e9d6a3140d30d71cb8788|title = Sen. Leahy out of hospital, plans to return to Vermont|work = [[Associated Press]]|date = October 14, 2022|accessdate = October 15, 2022|archive-date = October 15, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221015015016/https://apnews.com/article/vermont-patrick-leahy-congress-government-and-politics-ab08ad8f901e9d6a3140d30d71cb8788|url-status = live}}</ref>

===Other===
Leahy is a published photographer and author.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Road taken - A Memoir |url=http://kirkusreviews.com/ |website=Kirkus Reviews |access-date=July 3, 2022 |issn=1948-7428 |location=New York City |date=July 1, 2022 |quote=A skillfully spun memoir that shows how politics is—or at least should be—conducted. |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703225616/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Policitor2007-08-01>{{cite news |url = https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5219_Page2.html |title= Leahy attacks Bush, Roberts |work= [[Politico]] |first= Roger|last= Simon |date= August 1, 2007 |access-date = May 18, 2013 |archive-date = August 26, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070826065530/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5219_Page2.html |url-status= live |quote=Instead, it contains pictures that Leahy, a published photographer, has taken. The centerpiece—placed, Leahy says, so he can stare into it every day from his desk—is a haunting one of a man he met in a refugee camp in El Salvador in 1982.}}</ref> He is a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and attends Saint Andrew's Church in [[Waterbury, Vermont]].<ref name=politicsdaily>{{cite web|last1=Friedman|first1=Jeanette|title=What Is Patrick Leahy's Religion?|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/27/what-is-patrick-leahys-religion/|website=Politics Daily|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918021818/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/27/what-is-patrick-leahys-religion/|archive-date=September 18, 2014|date=October 27, 2010}}</ref> He also attends [[Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)|Holy Trinity Catholic Church]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name=politicsdaily/>

Leahy is a self-proclaimed [[Deadhead]], estimating that he has attended around a half-dozen [[Grateful Dead]] shows, and was pictured backstage at a performance in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live/ | title=Watch CBS News 24/7, our free live news stream | website=[[CBS News]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://rollcall.com/2015/06/30/patrick-leahy-lives-for-the-dead/ | title=Patrick Leahy Lives for the Dead | date=June 30, 2015 }}</ref>

===Comic book fan===
Leahy is a fan of comic books, and in particular the character [[Batman]]. He wrote the foreword to ''The Dark Knight [[DC Archive Editions|Archives]], Volume 1'' (a 1992 collection of the first four [[Batman (comic book)|''Batman'' comic books]]), the preface essay for ''[[Batman: Death of Innocents]]'' (a 1996 [[graphic novel]] about the horrors of landmines), and the introduction to ''Green Arrow: The Archer's Quest'' (a single-volume collection of a six-issue story arc).

Leahy has also made several [[cameo appearance]]s in Batman television episodes and films, beginning with an uncredited cameo in ''[[Batman Forever]]'' (1995).<ref>{{cite web
 |first=Matthew |last=Cooper |author-link=Matthew Cooper (American journalist) |date=March 1996 |title=Hollywood, D.C. |work=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles]]
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iV0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Patrick+Leahy |quote=Vermont senator Patrick Leahy filmed a cameo appearance in ''Batman Forever'';
 |page=70}}</ref><ref name="sevendays">{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Heintz |date=July 11, 2012 |title=Fair Game: Holy Cash, Batman! |work=Seven Days |url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/holy-cash-batman/Content?oid=2184373 |quote=Warner Bros has cast the caped crusader aficionado in four films, from 1995's ''Batman Forever'' to the brand-new ''The Dark Knight Rises''. According to a Leahy staffer, Warner Bros. paid the senator $10,000 in royalties over the years, all of which he's donated to Kellogg-Hubbard, his boyhood library. A 2008 Montpelier screening of ''The Dark Knight'' raised nearly $100,000 for the library, which named a wing after Leahy. |access-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414010149/http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/holy-cash-batman/Content?oid=2184373 |url-status=live }}</ref> He voiced a territorial governor in the ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Showdown" (1995), appeared as himself in the film ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'' (1997), and appeared twice in [[Christopher Nolan]]'s ''Dark Knight'' Trilogy as a [[Wayne Enterprises]] board member. In ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008) he appeared as a fundraiser guest who confronts the Joker.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |title=Holy Cameo, Batman! It's a Senator! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/washington/12leahy.html
|work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Pam |last=Belluck
|date=July 12, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2013
|archive-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403020153/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/washington/12leahy.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012), he defended the legacy of the Wayne family against attempts to usurp the company by industrialist John Daggett.<ref name="politico.com">{{cite news |title= Leahy making another 'Dark Knight' cameo |url= https://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/07/leahy-making-another-dark-knight-cameo-127964
|work=[[Politico]] |first=Caitlin |last=McDevitt
|date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=May 18, 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313152318/http://www.politico.com//blogs/click/2012/07/patrick-leahy-makes-another-dark-knight-cameo-127964.html |archive-date=March 13, 2013 |url-status=live
|quote=The Vermont Democrat, who's a big Batman fan, also made an appearance in 'The Dark Knight' a few years ago. In the scene, the Joker, played by Heath Ledger, holds Leahy at knifepoint.
}}</ref> Leahy also appeared in ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'', playing Senator Purrington, in a scene set during [[Superman]]'s Senate hearing which is subsequently destroyed by an explosion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AXidnUv7kU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/1AXidnUv7kU |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|first=Ben |last=Affleck |title=Opening Statement, Senate hearing on diplomacy |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |date=March 26, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

All royalties and fees from Leahy's roles are donated to charities, primarily the [[Kellogg-Hubbard Library]] in Vermont, where he learned to read as a child.<ref name="sevendays" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/118754-sen-leahy-has-speaking-role-in-upcoming-batman-film/|title=Senator Leahy has Speaking Role in Upcoming Batman Film|work=The Hill|last1=Cohn|first1=Alicia M.|date=July 3, 2012|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123004108/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/236153-sen-leahy-has-speaking-role-in-upcoming-batman-film|url-status=live}}</ref>

===UVM distinguished fellow===
In March 2023, the [[University of Vermont]] (UVM) announced that Leahy had joined the university as a president's distinguished fellow.<ref name="Fellow">{{cite news |last=Corredera |first=Enrique |date=March 2, 2023 |title=Senator Leahy Joins UVM as President's Distinguished Fellow |url=https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/senator-leahy-joins-uvm-presidents-distinguished-fellow |work=UVM Today |publisher=University of Vermont |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308070735/https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/senator-leahy-joins-uvm-presidents-distinguished-fellow |url-status=live }}</ref> In this position, he participates in research and academic and engagement projects he initiated while in the Senate.<ref name="Fellow"/> He has also been assigned roles as an advisor and mentor to students and faculty members, a classroom guest lecturer, and a university representative at public events.<ref name="Fellow"/> In addition, he serves as liaison between UVM and organizations and communities throughout Vermont.<ref name="Fellow"/>

In May 2023, UVM announced that it had named its Honors College for Leahy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradley |first=Pat |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Honors College named after retired U.S. Senator |url=https://www.wamc.org/news/2023-05-19/honors-college-named-after-retired-u-s-senator |work=WAMC Radio |location=Albany, NY}}</ref> The Honors College was founded in 2004, and is intended to host original research, innovative teaching, and student-faculty collaborations.<ref name="Honors">{{cite news |date=May 18, 2023 |title=UVM Honors College Named for Senator Patrick Leahy |url=https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/uvm-honors-college-named-senator-patrick-leahy |work=University of Vermont |location=Burlington, VT}}</ref> It stresses the importance of experiential learning as a way to aid students in developing into original thinkers and compassionate leaders.<ref name="Honors"/>

In August 2023, UVM announced that Leahy had donated his personal Senate papers to it.<ref name="Papers">{{cite news |date=August 25, 2023 |title=Leahy donates Senate papers to UVM library |url=https://www.wcax.com/2023/08/25/leahy-donates-senate-papers-uvm-library/ |work=WCAX-TV |location=South Burlington, VT}}</ref> The collection of about 1,000 boxes and approximately 20 terabytes of data will be part of UVM's Jack and Shirley Silver Special Collections Library.<ref name="Papers"/> After sorting and cataloguing, the Leahy Papers will be available to students, faculty, and the public.<ref name="Papers"/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable"
!scope="col" | Year
!scope="col" | Title
!scope="col" style="width: 15em;" | Role
!scope="col" style="width: 15em;" class="unsortable" | Notes
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |1995
| ''[[Batman Forever]]''
| Himself
| Uncredited cameo
| <ref name=super>{{cite news |last=Cavna |first=Michael |date=March 13, 2019 |title=Sen. Patrick Leahy was in 5 Batman movies. Now he's written the foreword for the superhero's 80th anniversary |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/13/sen-patrick-leahy-was-batman-movies-now-hes-written-foreword-superheros-th-anniversary/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401143413/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/13/sen-patrick-leahy-was-batman-movies-now-hes-written-foreword-superheros-th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=miss>{{cite news |last=Yaws |first=Jay |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Tracking Senator Patrick Leahy's Batman film cameos |url=https://batman-news.com/2021/01/22/senator-patrick-leahy-batman/ |work=Batman News |access-date=January 24, 2021 |quote=It's a 'blink and you'll miss it' appearance, so much so that nobody seems to have any good screengrabs anywhere. |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213348/https://batman-news.com/2021/01/22/senator-patrick-leahy-batman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]''
| Territorial Governor
| Voice; Episode: "Showdown" 
| <ref>{{cite web |last=Snow |first=Sara |date=May 21, 2022 |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Batman: The Animated Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/things-you-didnt-know-about-batman-the-animated-series/ |website=CBR |access-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829020035/https://www.cbr.com/things-you-didnt-know-about-batman-the-animated-series/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]''
| Himself
| rowspan="4" | Cameo
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[The Dark Knight]]''
| rowspan="2" | [[Wayne Enterprises]] board member
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]''
| Senator Purrington
| <ref>{{cite news |last=Heil |first=Emily |date=March 24, 2016 |title=How two senators scored cameos in 'Batman v Superman' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2016/03/24/how-two-senators-scored-cameos-in-batman-v-superman/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |access-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223150630/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2016/03/24/how-two-senators-scored-cameos-in-batman-v-superman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

==Electoral history==
'''<big>Almanac</big>'''
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="6" |[[United States Congress]]ional Service
|-
!Years
!Congress
!Chamber
!Senate Majority
!Senate Vice President 
!Constituency 
|-
|1975-77
|[[94th United States Congress|94th]]
| rowspan="24" |[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] 
|[[Nelson Rockefeller]]
| rowspan="24" |[[List of United States senators from Vermont|Vermont]]
|-
|1977-79
|[[95th United States Congress|95th]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Walter Mondale]]
|-
|1979-81
|[[96th United States Congress|96th]]
|-
|1981-83
|[[97th United States Congress|97th]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] 
| rowspan="4" |[[George H. W. Bush|George H.W. Bush]]
|-
|1983-85
|[[98th United States Congress|98th]]
|-
|1985-87
|[[99th United States Congress|99th]]
|-
|1987-89
|[[100th United States Congress|100th]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] 
|-
|1989-91
|[[101st United States Congress|101st]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Dan Quayle]] 
|-
|1991-93
|[[102nd United States Congress|102nd]]
|-
|1993-95
|[[103rd United States Congress|103rd]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Al Gore]]
|-
|1995-97
|[[104th United States Congress|104th]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
|1997-99
|[[105th United States Congress|105th]]
|-
|1999-2001
|[[106th United States Congress|106th]]
|-
|2001-03
|[[107th United States Congress|107th]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]](until January 20, 2001)
[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] 
(January 20, 2001 - June 30, 2001)
Democratic
(from June 6, 2001)
| rowspan="4" |[[Dick Cheney]]
|-
|2003-05
|[[108th United States Congress|108th]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] 
|-
|2005-07
|[[109th United States Congress|109th]]
|-
|2007-09
|[[110th United States Congress|110th]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] 
|-
|2009-11
|[[111th United States Congress|111th]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Joe Biden]] 
|-
|2011-13
|[[112th United States Congress|112th]]
|-
|2013-15
|[[113th United States Congress|113th]]
|-
|2015-17
|[[114th United States Congress|114th]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
|2017-19
|[[115th United States Congress|115th]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Mike Pence]]
|-
|2019-21
|[[116th United States Congress|116th]]
|-
|2021-23
|[[117th United States Congress|117th]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] 
|[[Kamala Harris]]
|}
'''<big>Electoral results</big>'''{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[1974 United States Senate election in Vermont|1974 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Douglas |first=James H. |author-link=Jim Douglas |date=1989 |title=Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8mqHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22frothingham%22 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=135 |via=[[Google Books]] |access-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414131653/https://books.google.com/books?id=8mqHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22frothingham%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy
  | votes = 19,801
  | percentage = 83.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Nathaniel Frothingham
  | votes = 3,703
  | percentage = 15.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
  | party = None
  | candidate = Scattering
  | votes = 97
  | percentage = 0.4%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 23,601
  | percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy
  | votes = 70,629
  | percentage = 49.48
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Richard W. Mallary]]
  | votes = 66,223
  | percentage = 46.39
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = [[Bernie Sanders]]
  | votes = 5,901
  | percentage = 4.13
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 142,753
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[1980 United States Senate election in Vermont|1980 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75892/|title=1980 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028040936/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75892/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75901/|title=1980 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028053634/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75901/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 27,548
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 27,548
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 104,089
  | percentage = 49.76
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = Stewart M. Ledbetter
  | votes = 101,647
  | percentage = 48.59
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = [[Anthony Doria|Anthony N. Doria]]
  | votes = 1,764
  | percentage = 0.84
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = Earl S. Gardner
  | votes = 1,578
  | percentage = 0.75
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 110
  | percentage = 0.05
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 209,188
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[1986 United States Senate election in Vermont|1986 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75995/|title=1986 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028043643/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75995/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/76019/|title=1986 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028051925/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/76019/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 21,255
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 21,255
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 124,123
  | percentage = 63.16
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Richard A. Snelling|Richard Snelling]]
  | votes = 67,798
  | percentage = 34.50
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Conservative Party (United States)
  | candidate = Anthony N. Doria
  | votes = 2,963
  | percentage = 1.51
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = Jerry Levy
  | votes = 1,583
  | percentage = 0.81
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 65
  | percentage = 0.03
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 196,532
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[1992 United States Senate election in Vermont|1992 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75701/|title=1992 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028051527/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75701/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75715/|title=1992 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117035121/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75715|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 24,721
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 24,721
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 154,762
  | percentage = 54.16
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Jim Douglas]]
  | votes = 123,854
  | percentage = 43.35
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = Jerry Levy
  | votes = 5,121
  | percentage = 1.79
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
  | party = Freedom for LaRouche
  | candidate = Michael B. Godeck
  | votes = 1,780
  | percentage = 0.62
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 222
  | percentage = 0.08
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 285,739
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[1998 United States Senate election in Vermont|1998 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75648/|title=1998 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028041740/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75648/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75668/|title=1998 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028050253/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75668/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 18,643
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 18,643
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 154,567
  | percentage = 72.22
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Fred Tuttle]]
  | votes = 48,051
  | percentage = 22.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Libertarian Party (United States)
  | candidate = Hugh Douglas
  | votes = 4,199
  | percentage = 1.96
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = Barry M. Nelson
  | votes = 2,893
  | percentage = 1.35
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
  | party = Vermont Grassroots
  | candidate = Bob Melamede
  | votes = 2,459
  | percentage = 1.15
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = Jerry Levy
  | votes = 1,238
  | percentage = 0.58
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 629
  | percentage = 0.29
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 214,036
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[2004 United States Senate election in Vermont|2004 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75524/|title=2004 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028052636/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75524/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75533/|title=2004 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200819223816/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75533/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 27,459
  | percentage = 94.32
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Craig Hill
  | votes = 1,573
  | percentage = 5.40
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 81
  | percentage = 0.28
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 29,113
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 216,972
  | percentage = 70.63
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[John A. McMullen|Jack McMullen]]
  | votes = 75,398
  | percentage = 24.54
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = United States Marijuana Party
  | candidate = [[Cris Ericson]]
  | votes = 6,486
  | percentage = 2.11
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Green Party of the United States
  | candidate = Craig Hill
  | votes = 3,999
  | percentage = 1.30
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = Keith Stern
  | votes = 3,300
  | percentage = 1.07
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = Ben Mitchell
  | votes = 879
  | percentage = 0.29
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 174
  | percentage = 0.06
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 307,208
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[2010 United States Senate election in Vermont|2010 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/69608/|title=2010 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028051249/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/69608/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/69809/|title=2010 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028053101/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/69809/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 64,756
  | percentage = 88.92
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Daniel Freilich
  | votes = 7,892
  | percentage = 10.84
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 175
  | percentage = 0.24
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 72,823
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 151,281
  | percentage = 64.32
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = Len Britton
  | votes = 72,699
  | percentage = 30.91
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = Daniel Freilich
  | votes = 3,544
  | percentage = 1.51
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = United States Marijuana Party
  | candidate = [[Cris Ericson]]
  | votes = 2,731
  | percentage = 1.16
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = Stephen J. Cain
  | votes = 2,356
  | percentage = 1.00
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Socialist Party USA
  | candidate = [[Peter Diamondstone|Pete Diamondstone]]
  | votes = 1,433
  | percentage = 0.61
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = Johenry Nunes
  | votes = 1,021
  | percentage = 0.43
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 133
  | percentage = 0.06
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 235,198
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
  | title = [[2016 United States Senate election in Vermont|2016 U.S. Senate election in Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/82188/|title=2016 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028054229/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/82188/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/82049/|title=2016 U.S. Senate General Election|website=Vermont Secretary of State|accessdate=March 24, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028035920/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/82049/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 62,249
  | percentage = 88.59
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Cris Ericson]]
  | votes = 7,596
  | percentage = 10.81
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 424
  | percentage = 0.60
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 70,269
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Patrick Leahy (incumbent)
  | votes = 192,243
  | percentage = 61.26
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Scott Milne]]
  | votes = 103,637
  | percentage = 33.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = United States Marijuana Party
  | candidate = [[Cris Ericson]]
  | votes = 9,156
  | percentage = 2.92
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = independent (politician)
  | candidate = Jerry Trudell
  | votes = 5,223
  | percentage = 1.66
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Liberty Union Party
  | candidate = [[Peter Diamondstone|Pete Diamondstone]]
  | votes = 3,241
  | percentage = 1.03
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  | votes = 309
  | percentage = 0.10
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 313,809
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  | loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Books ==
* {{Cite book |last=Leahy |first=Patrick |date=August 23, 2022 |title=The Road Taken: A Memoir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sfk-EAAAQBAJ |location=New York |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9781982157357 |oclc=1265084645}}

==See also==
* [[Trump–Ukraine scandal]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{CongLinks | congbio=l000174 | votesmart=53353 | fec=S4VT00017 | congress=patrick-leahy/1383 }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=L000174 | votesmart=27110 |fec=S4VT00017 | congress=patrick-leahy/138}}
* {{C-SPAN|1552}}

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