Leahy to represent Congress at U.N.

BURLINGTON — Democratic U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont has been appointed by President Barack Obama to represent Congress at the United Nations as the world body begins its annual session this coming week.
Leahy will attend President Obama’s address to the General Assembly on Tuesday and will meet during the week with U.N. leaders and others.  Leahy will consult leaders of the U.S. Delegation in assisting with U.S. priorities before the United Nations, such as the crisis in Syria.
Leahy chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations. He joins Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican, in the two-member congressional delegation to the U.N.
Leahy has handled similar assignments twice before.