Remarks
Currently showing results related to National Security
McConnell: Nation Deserves Strong, Bipartisan Foreign Policy to Counter Serious Threats
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding nominations and foreign policy: "Yesterday, we confirmed Antony Blinken, our new Secretary of State. Like the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Treasury, it was another big, bipartisan vote here in the Senate. "Four years ago, Senate Democrats subjected mainstream nominees to lead State and Treasury to a … Continue Reading
01.22.21
McConnell on Ret. Gen. Austin’s Nomination and Civil-Military Relations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding nominations: "We're continuing to consider President Biden's nominees to key cabinet posts. "On Wednesday, Avril Haines was confirmed as Director of National Intelligence on a big, bipartisan vote, including my own. "We hope to be able to consider Antony Blinken to be Secretary of State early next week. "Today, we're considering Retired General Lloyd Aus… Continue Reading
11.16.20
Premature Afghanistan Exit Would Jeopardize Trump Administration’s Record of Success
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the ongoing presence of U.S. forces in the Middle East to combat terrorism: "The last several days have brought renewed speculation about the prospect of rapidly withdrawing all U.S. military forces from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. "Here in Congress, a small minority in both parties seem to think it is in America's power to unilaterally resolve conflicts b… Continue Reading
11.10.20
McConnell on Sec. Mark Esper and World Affairs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Secretary Mark Esper and world affairs: "Yesterday, the President informed us that Secretary Mark Esper's tenure leading the Department of Defense has concluded. "When the Senate considered Secretary Esper's nomination, I said you could hardly invent better qualifications to run the Pentagon than his resume. From West Point and the 101st Airborne to his time… Continue Reading
11.09.20
McConnell on Elections: “We Respect the Rule of Law and Trust Our Institutions”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the 2020 election: "Last week, record numbers of Americans exercised the right which generations risked everything to hand on to us. "I want to spend a few minutes this morning talking about what we saw last week, where we are now, and where our great country will go from here. "There is one aspect of last week that has gotten lost that I want to single ou… Continue Reading
10.22.20
McConnell on Election Security: “We Have Spent the Last Four Years Gearing Up For This”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding election security: "Yesterday evening, the Directors of National Intelligence and the FBI updated the public on foreign efforts to influence our election and our government's work to prevent them. They announced that Iran and Russia exploited voter information to send misleading e-mails. "This is just another reminder that multiple different adversaries with… Continue Reading
09.23.20
Schumer “Temper Tantrum” Halted Bipartisan Work on National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Minority Leader Schumer: "Two days ago, the Democratic Leader threatened that if the Senate majority dares to play by the rules and behave like a Senate majority, it would mean 'the end of this supposedly great deliberative body.' "Yesterday, we learned what he meant. We saw important Senate business hurt by what amounted to a temper tantrum. "For some reas… Continue Reading
09.17.20
McConnell on Election Security: Real Threats Persist, But We Aren’t ‘Flat-Footed’ Any Longer
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding election security: "Our Democratic colleagues have sought to spend this week discussing election security. "Well, really, they have sought to discuss anything besides pandemic relief, since their leaders are still blocking bipartisan negotiations that could get a result. So our friends across the aisle have tried to change the subject to election security, o… Continue Reading
08.03.20
McConnell Urges Seriousness and Unity on Election Security, Not Partisan Cherry-Picking
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding election security: "This week, officials from the Intelligence Community, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security will brief us on foreign efforts to influence our politics and elections, and how the Administration is defending us. "Every one of our colleagues should attend one of these sessions. "Sharing sensitive threat information with Congress … Continue Reading
07.01.20
McConnell: “The Rule of Law Cannot Fade In and Out With the Fashions of the Radical Left”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding civil unrest: "I'd planned to speak first today about the NDAA. I'd planned to discuss our work to ensure American servicemembers can protect our nation and secure peace for the United States. "But unfortunately, the inexplicable passivity and weakness of local leaders in our own country has denied some citizens peace and security right here at home. "Here … Continue Reading
06.04.20
McConnell Delivers Address on China to Mark Tiananmen Square Anniversary
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing: "Today marks the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. "Because of China's censorship and disinformation, we still do not know how many brave Chinese people were killed by their own government on June 4th, 1989. Conservative estimates say hundreds. Others say thousands.… Continue Reading
06.03.20
“The Foreign Actors Who Seek to Harm the United States Have Not Let Up While We Attend to Other Problems”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "Make no mistake: The foreign actors who seek to harm the United States have not let up while we attend to other problems. "For example, in Afghanistan, despite agreeing just months ago to engage in further peace negotiations with the Afghan government and sever its ties with al-Qaeda, the Taliban has instead continued its violent campaign again… Continue Reading
05.21.20
McConnell on Successful Slowing of COVID-19: The American People Have Won “An Important Battle”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding COVID-19: "All month, the Senate has been on the job, attending to the needs of our nation. "We have legislated. We've confirmed nominees. We've held major hearings and conducted oversight on the historic response to COVID-19. "Now, yesterday, we learned that our Senate action will continue to contrast with our absentee neighbors across the rotunda. "While… Continue Reading
05.20.20
McConnell: House Democrats Playing With “Perpetual Impeachment” While the Senate Fights the Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding House Democrats' perpetual impeachment and the CARES Act: "Week after week, this Capitol has been a study in contrasts. Call it a tale of two chambers. "Over here in the United States Senate, the lights are on, the doors are open, and we are working for the American people. "All month, we've been in session - passing national-security legislation, confirmin… Continue Reading
05.19.20
McConnell on Continued Action on Improper Investigations: The American People Deserve Answers and We Intend to Get Them
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding government accountability: "The coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge our nation, and the Senate is here working for the American people. "Our committees have called in experts like Dr. Fauci and leaders like Chairman Powell to discuss the CARES Act and the path toward re-opening. We are tracking the effects of the largest rescue package ever and we a… Continue Reading
05.18.20
McConnell: Essential Workers Are Showing Up for Our Country And The Senate Is Showing Up for Them
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the week's business: "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to hold our nation on high alert. "More than 1.4 million Americans have been infected. More than 80,000 lives have been tragically lost. And the livelihoods of tens of millions of working families have been turned upside down in what seems like the blink of an eye. "Our nation's healthcare system has not… Continue Reading
05.13.20
McConnell: Our Enemies and Competitors Are Not Standing Down During this Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the need to renew key authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): "The Senate has work of our own to do this week to ensure the safety and security of our nation. "In addition to fighting this historic pandemic, it is also our job to keep sight of the other threats to national security that are still evolving, independent of COVID-19.… Continue Reading
05.11.20
McConnell: The Senate Will Continue to Perform Our Own Essential Responsibilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the week's business: "The Senate is back for a second week in session and we have more important work to do for the American people. "While our nation fights the coronavirus pandemic, many of our fellow Americans have been taking new safety precautions but continuing to show up to perform essential work. "Because of delivery drivers and grocery clerks, fami… Continue Reading
03.16.20
McConnell on FISA: The Senate Should Not Wait to Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding FISA: "Late last night, several critical authorities that law enforcement uses to keep Americans safe lapsed into expiration. "Barring Senate action, these important tools, which help protect the homeland from terrorists and counter foreign intelligence activities on U.S. soil, will remain offline. "Fortunately, in the weeks leading up to this deadline, the… Continue Reading
03.12.20
McConnell Calls for Immediate Passage of Important National Security Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020: "Yesterday, the House of Representatives did come together around a bipartisan agreement to renew some critical national security tools. "The USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 will reauthorize key authorities granted to intelligence and national security professionals under the Foreign Intelligence Surveilla… Continue Reading
