Press Releases
Senators McConnell and Paul Introduce Legislation to Require Congressional Review over the Bureau of Prisons
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul introduced The Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2015 today. The legislation requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. Unlike most Department of Justice (DOJ) administrators or directors, the Director of BOP is appointed by the U.S. Attorney General without the approval of the Senate. The Director of the BO… Continue Reading
07.14.15
McConnell: Senate Will Review the Iran Nuclear Agreement and Its Effects on America’s National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration's nuclear agreement with Iran: "The comprehensive nuclear agreement announced today appears to further the flawed elements of April's interim agreement because the Obama Administration approached these talks from a flawed perspective: reaching the best deal acceptable to Iran, rather than actually advancing our national goal of ending Iran's nuclear program. … Continue Reading
07.10.15
McConnell Statement on OPM Director Resignation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement regarding the resignation of Katherine Archuleta, Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the need for the Obama administration to 'articulate a credible plan of action' to prevent additional breaches of Americans' personal information: "The Obama Administration needs to take this opportunity to articulate a credible plan of action, and more thoroughly address the legitimate concerns of… Continue Reading
07.09.15
McConnell on CMS Administrator Nominee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the nomination of Andy Slavitt as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator: "The head of the agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid should be focused on what the American people expect him to do: administer these important programs, not allow his attention to be diverted instead to the implementation of some gigantic, unworkable health care law that hurts hardw… Continue Reading
07.09.15
McConnell Lauds Sen. Toomey for His Efforts to Protect Our Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding Sen. Pat Toomey's amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act: "I commend Senator Toomey's hard work to protect our children from sex offenders. The amendment prohibits schools from shipping known or suspected child predators to other school districts, a practice known as 'passing the trash.' Senator Toomey has been a tireless advocate for our kids, and the Senate would not have passed this imp… Continue Reading
07.03.15
McConnell Statement on Humana
U.S. Senate Majority Leader notes that the sale "is the inevitable result of Obamacare's push toward consolidation as doctors, hospitals, and insurers merge in response to an ever-growing government." Louisville, Ky - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement today regarding Aetna's announced purchase of Louisville-based Humana. The sale is the type of consolidation McConnell predicted five years ago during the debate on Obamacare: "For more than 30 years, Huma… Continue Reading
06.29.15
McConnell Welcomes the Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling
LOUISVILLE, KY. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement today regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Obama Administration officials like to pretend that the costs of their massive and regressive regulations either don't exist or don't matter. Middle-class families in Kentucky and across our country don't have that luxury, and are often the first to suffer. "Today's Supreme Court decision represents a cutt… Continue Reading
06.26.15
McConnell on the Supreme Court’s Marriage Ruling
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement today regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges: "I disagree with the Court's ruling. Regardless of one's personal view on this issue, the American people, through the democratic process, should be able to determine the meaning of this bedrock institution in our society. "I also believe that America is big enough to accommodate the views of all citizens-that's why going forward I ho… Continue Reading
06.24.15
McConnell Statement on Senate Passage of Trade Promotion Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement after the Senate passed Trade Promotion Authority. With House passage last week, the legislation now goes to the White House for the President's signature: "A new Congress that's back to work for the middle class just notched another win for everyone who cares about strengthening American paychecks, American jobs, and the American economy. Achieving this positive outcome was never going to be easy, but i… Continue Reading
06.22.15
McConnell on the Confederate Battle Flag
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the Confederate Battle Flag: "The Confederate Battle Flag means different things to different people, but the fact that it continues to be a painful reminder of racial oppression to many suggests to me at least that it's time to move beyond it, and that the time for a state to fly it has long since passed. There should be no confusion in anyone's mind that as a people we're united in our dete… Continue Reading
06.18.15
McConnell Secures Pro-Coal Measure in Senate Interior Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced today that he secured language in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill that would protect states from any consequences from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should they forego submitting a state plan for complying with the agency's recently finalized power plant rule. This prohibition of the use of funds was included in the Senate version of the bill that was approved by the Appropriations Committee earlier tod… Continue Reading
06.10.15
McConnell on the Retirement of the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington: "I join the rest of the Senate in wishing the very best to the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington, in retirement. Rarely do you meet one man who can say he's been a Princeton valedictorian, a Harvard professor, a Rhodes Scholar, an expert on the Kremlin, and a veteran, but that's Dr. Billington - and he's got more than 40 … Continue Reading
06.10.15
McConnell receives Building Independence Award from American Printing House for the Blind
Louisville, KY - The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is pleased to announce that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in acknowledgement of his continuing efforts in support of educational opportunities for people with vision loss, is a recipient of APH's new Building Independence Award. The award is intended to demonstrate APH's sincere gratitude for outstanding efforts in support of its mission. "Senator McConnell clearly recognizes the challenges that blind and visually i… Continue Reading
06.09.15
McConnell: Don’t Hold Bipartisan Defense Bill Hostage
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding defense authorization legislation: "The defense authorization legislation before the Senate would authorize the programs and funding that provide the kind of training and equipment our military needs in the face of aggressive threats like ISIL. It would provide a well-deserved pay raise to the brave men and women who give everything to keep us safe. And it contains exactly the… Continue Reading
05.31.15
McConnell on the Passing of Beau Biden
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the passing of the Vice President's son, Beau Biden: "I'd like to begin by expressing sincere condolences to the entire Biden family in their moment of such deep and profound loss. Beau Biden was known to many as a dedicated public servant, a loving father of two, and a devoted partner to the woman he loved: Hallie. I've known the Vice President for many years, and it's hard t… Continue Reading
05.27.15
McConnell Office Statement on EPA Regulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Robert Steurer, Communications Director for Senator Mitch McConnell, released the following statement today regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule to regulate "the waters of the United States" (WOTUS): "Senator McConnell is still reviewing the rule. However, he has heard from Kentuckians in the agriculture community, coal industry, and manufacturing that any attempt to expand federal power over waters would be detrimental to the economy by limiting the abil… Continue Reading
05.22.15
McConnell on Senate Passage of Trade Promotion Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement after Senate passage of Trade Promotion Authority: "Tonight's vote shows that Republicans and Democrats can stand strong, together, for the Middle Class; it's yet another example of a new Congress that's back to work on behalf of the American people. The trade legislation we passed is all about creating new opportunities for bigger paychecks, better jobs, and a stronger economy. The tools it contains wil… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Memorial Day 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement honoring the members of our Armed Forces on this Memorial Day, May 25: "This Monday we'll honor our nation's greatest heroes: Every American who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom, democracy, and the American way of life. We'll proudly fly the flag that these brave heroes sought to protect. "Memorial Day is also a time to express our gratitude to the families of the fallen, to let them … Continue Reading
05.19.15
“Blue Alert Act” Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement today regarding the President signing the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 into law. Senator McConnell co-sponsored the bill establishing a national "Blue Alert" system within the U.S. Department of Justice to help catch those who kill, harm, or threaten law enforcement officers. The law creates a nationwide system similar to what the Amber Alert system does for abducted children. Sh… Continue Reading
05.19.15
Senators McConnell & Markey Partner on National Effort to Address Prescription Drug and Heroin Crisis
Nearly 25,000 Americans die each year from an opioid overdose WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a Surgeon General's Report and Call to Action on prescription drug and heroin abuse. With the opioid crisis reaching epidemic proportions in Massachusetts, Kentucky and states across the nation, the Senators sent a letter to HHS requesting the Surgeon … Continue Reading
