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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA):

“Far too many Americans know the toll the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic is taking on our families, our communities, and each of our states.

“Anti-drug groups certainly know the toll this crisis is taking, and nearly 200 groups dealing with the crisis in their communities called for action in a letter to Congress just this week. They wrote to endorse the conference report for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Let me share what they wrote:

We commend the conferees for the final bill and are calling on Congress for quick action to send this to the President's desk for signature. The report is truly a comprehensive response to the opioid epidemic, which includes critical policy changes and new resources. The report also acknowledges that the six pillars of a comprehensive response are each of equal import and interdependent as a whole, including prevention, treatment, recovery support, criminal justice reform, overdose reversal, and law enforcement. Only through a comprehensive response can we reverse current trends and provide individuals and families impacted by addiction with the services they need. As you know, 129 Americans die each day as a result of drug overdose and this epidemic affects the public health and safety in every community across the country. This bill is the critical response we need.

“These are groups like the Vermont Recovery Network, Free Heroin’s Hold in Minnesota, Kent County Memorial Hospital in Rhode Island, and Voices of Hope in my home state of Kentucky, among dozens and dozens more.

“Many have seen the impact of this epidemic firsthand. They know the difference this legislation could make. And they’re calling for us to send this bill to the President as soon as possible.

“There’s no reason our Democratic colleagues shouldn’t support this conference report now as well, especially given their support for CARA when the Senate voted 94-1 to pass it. The Senior Senator from Vermont called the bill ‘historic’ and said he was ‘proud to be a cosponsor.’

“The Senior Senator from Ohio has commended colleagues for ‘coming together in a bipartisan way,’ and ‘taking action on the opioid epidemic that is devastating communities across our country.’ And, just last week, the Senior Senator from Washington penned an op-ed praising the progress on addressing the epidemic. ‘I’m proud,’ she wrote, ‘to be working with Republicans and Democrats to conference legislation, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which would offer cities and states stronger tools to confront opioid addiction.’ It’s understandable why she’d be proud.

“The Trilogy Recovery Community — an organization in Washington State that has joined the chorus of those calling for passage of the CARA conference report — would certainly agree.

“The conference report the Senate will soon consider can make a difference for the American people, it’s the product of years of hard work, and it’s very similar to the CARA bill that already passed the Senate with no Democrat opposition.

“Now is the time to finalize it, as the nearly 200 groups who fight this epidemic in our states are advocating, because this issue is just too important to be caught up in partisan politics.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding Senate Democrats voting to block the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act and Kate’s Law:

“We all know that so-called ‘sanctuary city’ policies are extreme. They undermine the safety of our communities, they can inflict incredible pain on innocent victims and their families, and President Obama’s own Secretary of Homeland Security has called such policies ‘not acceptable’ and ‘counterproductive to public safety.’

“Yet Democrats voted to block two proposals that would have worked to prevent so-called ‘sanctuary city’ policies from existing in the first place and would have enhanced penalties to keep more criminals off our streets when cities refuse to do away with such policies.

“Senator Toomey offered one of them, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, which he described this way: ‘My legislation stands for the simple proposition that the safety of the American people matters. The life of Kate Steinle matters. Protecting our neighborhoods from violent criminals and terrorists matters.’

“Senator Toomey’s bill would have ensured more fairness for citizens and governments that do the right thing, it would have supported police officers who risk everything for our safety, and it enjoyed critical support from several law enforcement organizations. But Democrats again chose partisan politics over making a difference for the American people.

“I know Senator Toomey won’t be deterred. I know he’ll continue his work to do something about this issue. He has been an outspoken leader against the dangerous and extreme policies of sanctuary cities for some time now. I want to thank him for his leadership on the issue and his tireless work to advance this measure.

“I also want to recognize Senator Cruz for his legislation, Kate’s Law, which would have helped protect the public even when jurisdictions continue to follow so-called sanctuary city policies by putting more dangerous criminals behind bars and off our streets.

“These measures would have sought to prevent the kind of pain that Kate’s family has been forced to endure — a pain that no family should have to experience.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator for Colorado, Bill Armstrong:

“Senator Armstrong was a man of faith and optimism who believed that, while government would always find a way to take care of itself, it was the American people who needed an advocate on their behalf. He became known in his two terms in the Senate as an ally of Ronald Reagan who worked hard to serve the country he loved. I was proud to serve with him. Elaine and I send condolences to his family today.”

Recent Press Releases

Now is the Time to Get Opioid Legislation to the President’s Desk

‘The conference report the Senate will soon consider can make a difference for the American people, it’s the product of years of hard work, and it’s very similar to the CARA bill that already passed the Senate with no Democrat opposition.'

July 7, 2016

Senate Democrats Block Bills That Would Help Protect Our Communities

‘Democrats voted to block two proposals that would have worked to prevent so-called “sanctuary city” policies from existing in the first place and would have enhanced penalties to keep more criminals off our streets when cities refuse to do away with such policies.'

July 7, 2016

McConnell on the Passing of Senator Bill Armstrong

July 6, 2016