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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 BOP supervises Kentuckians who work at Kentucky’s five federal prisons and who protect the public under hazardous conditions on a daily basis. Kentucky corrections officers have repeatedly called for the BOP to take additional steps to mitigate risks to officer safety from violent inmates. Subjecting the BOP Director to the same congressional review as other top law enforcement agency chiefs within DOJ will ensure greater responsiveness by the agency to the safety needs of its nearly 40,000 dedicated federal corrections employees.

The BOP Director, who oversees operations at 122 federal facilities, also administers the controversial Federal Prisons Industries (FPI) program. This entity directly competes against the private sector, including small businesses in Kentucky, for government contracts and is inherently advantaged by its ability to pay federal prisoners less than private sector workers.

“Currently, the director of the Bureau of Prisons has significant budget authority over taxpayer dollars without confirmation by the U.S. Senate,” Senator McConnell said. “The legislation I introduced today with Senator Paul will bring some much needed accountability and transparency to the BOP, which is important for all agencies within the Department of Justice, and will help protect private sector workers in Kentucky and across the nation.”

"No agency as large as the Bureau of Prisons should have so little accountability. Our bill will ensure the concerns of those who work in the prisons are heard and acted upon. It will also ensure the small businesses affected by competition from the bureau have their voices heard," Sen. Paul said.

Don Peace, President of Local 614, which represents the staff at the U.S. Penitentiary McCreary in Pine Knot Kentucky, said, “this bill would bring some greatly needed oversight to this agency. I applaud Senators McConnell and Paul's leadership in introducing this bill. As Federal Law Enforcement Officers, we have a very dangerous job protecting society from criminals. The Senators have always been very supportive of us and this is just another way to show that support."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today urging passage of the bipartisan Every Child Achieves Act:

“The pundits told us it would never happen. Republicans and Democrats will never agree on a way to replace No Child Left Behind, they said.

“But a new Senate that’s back to work is proving them wrong.

“We’re poised to pass bipartisan legislation that would replace an education law that no longer works with significant education reforms that will.

“It’s a bipartisan bill that would take decision-making power away from distant federal bureaucrats and empower parents, teachers, states, and school boards instead.

“It’s a bipartisan bill that would end the practice of states being coerced into adopting measures like Common Core.

“It’s a bipartisan bill that would substitute one-size-fits-all Washington mandates for greater state and local flexibility.

“And because the needs of a student in Kentucky aren’t likely to be the same as the needs of a student in Montana or California, this is a bill that would clear the way for educational standards and programs to be designed with the needs of local students in mind.

“In short, the Every Child Achieves Act is aimed at helping students succeed instead of helping Washington grow. I urge colleagues to join me in passing it soon.

“That would be a big achievement for our kids.

“And it would be another reminder of what’s possible in a Senate that’s back to work for the American people.

“After all, what did our constituents see in this debate?

“They saw the Senators they send to Washington, regardless of party, having their voices heard.

“They saw Senators working across the aisle.

“They saw Senators of both parties offering amendment after amendment, and then voting to adopt many of them.

“On this bill alone, the new Senate has already taken roll-call votes on 17 amendments; we expect to take up to 6 more today.

“To put that in perspective:

“The new Senate will have taken more amendment roll-call votes on this single bill alone than the old Senate took all of last year, on all bills, combined.

“That’s something we should all want to celebrate. Because it means the voices of the American people are being heard in the Senate again.

“I want to thank the Senior Senators from Tennessee and Washington for all their hard work on this bill. Their continued dedication helped lead us to this point today.

“I also want to acknowledge the efforts of the House of Representatives on this issue. The Republican-led House has passed legislation to address this issue the past few years, but the old Senate failed to act.

“This year, a Senate under new management is poised to finally do its job. We look forward to going to conference with the House on this issue.

“But first, we must pass the bill before us.

“So let’s keep the productive momentum going. Let's pass this bill. Let's replace No Child Left Behind once and for all.

“We’ve already seen how states like Kentucky have been able to achieve more success by obtaining just a limited amount of flexibility from the current law, via conditional waivers — just imagine what Kentucky and other states could achieve when fully empowered to do what's right for their students.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following comments regarding Senate passage of the Adoptive Family Relief Act – legislation he cosponsored to provide meaningful financial relief to families adopting children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):

“I just wanted to briefly say a few words about Senate passage of S.1300, the Adoptive Family Relief Act. The issue this bill addresses is of particular importance to me, and I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of the legislation.

“More than 400 American families – approximately 20 of them from Kentucky – have successfully adopted children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC.

“However, due to the DRC government’s suspension of “exit permits” – which has been in place for close to two years now – many of these families have been unable to bring their adopted children home to the U.S.

“For example, although I was pleased to be able to help the Brock family from Owensboro, Kentucky with the return of one of their adopted sons last Christmas, their other son still remains in the DRC.

“To make matters worse, many of these families have been financially burdened by the cost of continually renewing their children’s visas while they wait for the day the DRC decides to lift this suspension.

“In an attempt to help these families, the Adoptive Family Relief Act will provide meaningful financial relief by granting the State Department the authority to waive the fees for multiple visa renewals in this and other extraordinary adoption circumstances.

“The bill builds on Congress’ bipartisan efforts on this adoption issue, including a provision in this year’s Congressional budget resolution to encourage a solution to the stalemate in the DRC.

“I strongly urge the DRC government to resolve this matter, and I truly hope there is a solution to it soon. But until then, I urge the House and President Obama to help us enact the Adoptive Family Relief Act. The passage of this bill through the Senate will help bring needed assistance to so many loving families across our country who want nothing more than to open their homes to a child in a need.

“I want to thank the bill sponsors – Senators Feinstein and Johnson – the 17 other bipartisan cosponsors, and the Judiciary Committee for their hard work and truly bipartisan commitment to solving this heartbreaking issue.”

Recent Press Releases

Senators McConnell and Paul Introduce Legislation to Require Congressional Review over the Bureau of Prisons

July 16, 2015

Senate Headed Towards Passage of Landmark Education Reform Bill

July 16, 2015

Senate Passes McConnell-Cosponsored Bill to Assist Families Adopting Children from Democratic Republic of the Congo

‘The passage of this bill through the Senate will help bring needed assistance to so many loving families across our country who want nothing more than to open their homes to a child in a need.’

July 15, 2015