News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding Obamacare:

“Here is the headline too many Kentuckians had to wake to this morning, ‘Health insurance rate hike requests average 17 percent in [Kentucky]’

“The story noted that these double-digit premium increases continue ‘a national trend of hefty hikes as insurers adapt to a market reshaped by President Barack Obama's signature health care law.’

“In other words, more unaffordable premium increases thanks to Obamacare.

“It was unfortunate to hear some of Obamacare’s defenders try to pretend otherwise and blame these rates on something like uncertainty over Kynect’s future. As the story notes ‘the only company that will offer plans statewide on the exchange next year said the requested rate increase has nothing to do with the end of Kynect.’

“Yesterday I shared stories from Kentuckians who continue to suffer under this law. Thanks to what we learned last night, I’m afraid we’ll be hearing even more.

“Obamacare’s defenders need to own up to what their partisan law is doing to the Middle Class and not waste another moment trying to deflect attention elsewhere. They need to work with us to relieve the pain of Obamacare and start over with real care.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“The men and women who sign up to defend our nation don’t ask for much, but our nation certainly asks a lot of them. They sacrifice on our behalf every day. They deserve the kind of support that the National Defense Authorization Act before us can provide. It will honor commitments to veterans, service members, and their families. It will authorize raises, support wounded warriors, and improve military benefits and health care.

“We need to pass it. The Democratic Leader needs to stop preventing us from doing so.

“Yesterday in his opening remarks, he claimed he was holding the bill up because he hadn’t had a chance to read it — then talked about a new book he’s reading.

“Today in his opening remarks, he’ll surely make more excuses for Democrats not to do their jobs — then head to a press conference titled ‘Do Your Job.’

“You can’t make this stuff up. But it’s not funny.

“Look, we get it. Democrats want to run TV ads claiming the Senate can’t get things done. They know it’s a tough sell. They know the only chance to make it work is by slow-walking even bills they actually support. But Democrats don’t actually want to be on record opposing our troops before Memorial Day, so they support the bill in public then bog it down in private — and cover with one embarrassing excuse after the next. We haven’t read it. It was written in secret. The dog ate it. It’s just embarrassing.

“As the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee said, ‘we need to move forward with this legislation [and] we need to move forward with it now, for the sake of the men and women who are serving and defending this Nation and putting their lives on the line.’ He’s right. So here’s an idea. How about Democrats skip talking about doing their jobs at a press conference and actually do their jobs instead?

“They can follow the lead of this Republican majority — a majority that continues to do its job and show how important things can be accomplished for the American people as a result.

“So no more needless delays. No more embarrassing excuses. No more blocking benefits for the men and women of our military. Let’s work together to get this done. We’ve already seen what’s possible in the Republican-led Senate when we do.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“After two days of needless delay from across the aisle, this morning we’ll vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the National Defense Authorization Act, and hopefully adopt that motion quickly thereafter. This critical defense bill passed committee on a strong bipartisan basis, there’s no reason for further delay from our Democratic colleagues.

“The National Defense Authorization Act authorizes funds and sets out policy for our military annually. It's always an important bill. It’s an especially important bill today.

“Consider the multitude of threats facing us from nearly every corner of the world.

“Consider the need to start preparing our armed services for the many global threats the next President will be forced to confront.

“As I’ve noted before, some of the most senior national security officials within this administration — like Secretary of Defense Carter and General Dunford, or those recently retired from service like retired General Campbell — have spoken of the need to better position the next President in theaters from Afghanistan to Asia to Libya. So whomever that President is, regardless of party, we should take action now to help our next commander-in-chief in this year of transition.

“That’s what the defense legislation before the Senate will help us do.

• It will support our allies and partners — authorizing funds to combat ISIL, preserve gains in Afghanistan, increase readiness at NATO, and assist friends like Ukraine.

• It will enhance military readiness — providing more of the equipment, training, and resources our service members need.

• And it will help keep our country safe — getting us better prepared to confront emerging threats like cyber warfare, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

“Critically, this bill will also help honor our commitment to service members, their families, and veterans — authorizing raises, supporting wounded warriors, and delivering better health care and benefits for the men and women who stand on guard for us every day.

“This bill contains sweeping reforms designed to advance American innovation and preserve our military’s technological edge. The funding level it authorizes is the same as what President Obama requested in his budget. And like I said earlier, it passed the Armed Services Committee on a strong bipartisan vote — 23 to 3.

“The Armed Services Chairman, Senator McCain, knows what it means to serve. He’s always on guard for the men and women of our military. This bill is a reflection of his commitment.

“It’s a commitment to them, and it’s a commitment to every American — to preparing our country in this year of transition for both the threats we face today and the threats yet to emerge.”

Recent Press Releases

More Unaffordable Premium Increases Thanks to Obamacare

‘Obamacare’s defenders need to own up to what their partisan law is doing to the Middle Class…They need to work with us to relieve the pain of Obamacare and start over with real care.’

May 26, 2016

Senate Democrats Need to Stop Blocking Defense Bill That Supports Veterans, Servicemembers, Families

‘We need to pass it. The Democratic Leader needs to stop preventing us from doing so…follow the lead of this Republican majority — a majority that continues to do its job and show how important things can be accomplished for the American people as a result.’

May 26, 2016

McConnell to Senate Democrats: Stop Delaying Defense Bill

'Critically, this bill will also help honor our commitment to service members, their families, and veterans — authorizing raises, supporting wounded warriors, and delivering better health care and benefits for the men and women who stand on guard for us every day.’

May 25, 2016