Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy casts milestone 15,000th vote
Only five senators in history have cast more.
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy cast his 15,000th vote in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, adding another milestone to his 40-year career.
Leahy was given a standing ovation on the Senate floor on Tuesday for crossing the 15,000 mark, as the Senate voted on amendments to a cybersecurity bill. A mix of Democrat and Republican senators praised Leahy for his devotion to his constituents and for bipartisan efforts.
“After all these years, I still get a lump in my throat as I arrive at this building, and walk out on this Floor, knowing its history, and taking part in its next chapters,’’ Leahy said in a statement.
In a floor speech, the 75-year-old Leahy recalled his first vote as senator, which established the Church Committee. That famously investigated the abuse of power in the U.S. intelligence community and ushered in a wave of reforms.
Leahy pointed out a number of votes close in memory, including his work promoting farming, combatting global warming, providing tropical storm relief, protecting civil liberties, and opposing the war in Iraq, he said.
“Fifteen thousand votes. And you know what? There is so much more work to be done,’’ he said.
Only five other senators in history have cast more. Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the longest-active serving senator, has cast an average of 375 votes per year.
Leahy now might be more known for his regular appearances in the Batman movies, including his star moment in The Dark Knight as a defiant party guest who stands up to the Joker.
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