July 31, 2009
July 31, 2009
USDA Boost In Dairy Pricing Two days after a coalition of two dozen senators strongly urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to raise the floor price for dairy products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it will do that for three months, beginning immediately. Today's announcement follows a strategy meeting between the coalition, led by Senator Leahy and including Senator Sanders, and Secretary Vilsack, where the senators urged him to take the action to help farmers who are hit hard by falling milk prices. This short-term boost in the price the federal goverment pays for milk and dairy products will help stabilize milk prices and provide support for struggling dairy farms in Vermont and around the country. Click here to read more about Senator Leahy's efforts to help dairy farmers or to watch a video of Senator Leahy's press conference today, following the USDA's announcement. _______________________________________
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Sotomayor Nomination Reported To Full Senate This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, sending the nomination to the Senate floor by a bipartisan vote of 13-6. As chairman of the Committee, Senator Leahy presided over four days of hearings during the week of July 13. Judge Sotomayor's nomination will be considered by the full Senate next week, when senators will debate the nomination and then vote, most likely by the end of the week. To read more about Judge Sotomayor's nomination, and to watch videos of the vote on Tuesday and a press conference on Wednesday, click here. _______________________________________ 25 Vermont Communities Net Total Of $5 Million On Tuesday, Senator Leahy announced that Vermont will receive $5,045,045 in economic recovery grants to hire and rehire law enforcement officers. The funding will go to 25 law enforcement agencies across Vermont and will cover the salary and benefits for newly hired entry-level officer positions over the next three years. This funding comes amid extreme budget pressures from the economic downturn and will help Vermont communities maintain police staffing levels to fight crime through community policing. For the list of Vermont towns receiving policing grants, click here. You can also read about how the economic recovery package is helping Vermont by clicking here. _______________________________________ Leahy Panel Hears Testimony From Jay Peak
On July 22, Senator Leahy chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a key foreign investor program administered by U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). Bill Stenger, pictured above, president of Jay Peak Resort, testified at the hearing on the benefits of the program in generating development projects and jobs for Vermonters. Senator Leahy has championed the program and its use in Vermont and is leading an effort to extend it. To read more about this hearing, click here. |
| If you or someone you know is having a problem with a federal program or needs help resolving a pending case with a federal agency, please call Senator Leahy's Burlington office at 802-863-2525. |
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