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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 Senate back to work for the American people:

“After much hard work, research, and deliberation from both sides of the aisle, we’re closer to having an opportunity to pass the first funding bill of the appropriations season — the energy security and water infrastructure funding bill.

“I know members have had some differences in opinion about an amendment authored by Senator Cotton, but this is how the legislative process works.

“Senator Cotton’s amendment — which would prevent future funds from being used to purchase heavy water from Iran — is germane to this funding bill, and it deserves a vote.

“So we’re going to have that vote today, allowing Senators from both sides to have their say on this issue and allowing us to move forward on this important measure.
The energy security and water infrastructure funding bill will positively impact every state in America.

“We know it includes important measures to support energy research and innovation, to promote public safety, to maintain waterways infrastructure, and to promote nuclear security.

“So let’s work to advance this bill and keep the appropriations process moving forward in a responsible manner.

“Yesterday the Senate passed the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, a bipartisan bill that as my friend, the Chairman of the Finance Committee observed, shows our ‘commitment to helping our economy with more jobs, bigger paychecks, and a stronger American manufacturing base.’

“And later today, the president will sign into law the Defend Trade Secrets Act — another Senate-passed bill that promotes our economy and helps create and retain American jobs.

“Both of these bills are the result of the work of two dedicated Committee Chairs, Senator Hatch and Senator Grassley.

“They’re also the result of a Senate that’s back to work for the American people.

“I want to thank the Finance and Judiciary Committee Chairmen for their efforts to advance these bills, just as I want to thank Senators Burr, Portman, Toomey, and Flake for their diligent work to help support American businesses and the economy through their efforts to pass the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act.

“President Obama recently bragged to The New York Times Magazine about his performance on the economy. He boasted about his economic legacy and actually claimed that, by his estimation, the Administration managed the economic recovery better than any peer economy facing a financial crisis ‘on Earth in modern history.’ That’s a quote.

“The same day this story hit, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its first quarter report showing only 0.5% growth. It’s the latest reminder of the actual economy that Americans are forced to confront day in and day out.

“President Obama has presided over the worst economic recovery since World War II. Growth is anemic, wages are stagnant for too many, poverty is up for too many, jobs are scarce for too many, and Americans are losing faith in the future. And somehow President Obama doesn’t seem to think any of this is his problem — or a problem at all. The issue isn’t his policies or his refusal to work across the aisle on solutions — no, to him it’s just a messaging problem, it’s just that he was too busy to ‘take victory laps’ or explain things properly.

“He believes ‘the U.S. economy is in much better shape than the public appreciates’ as the magazine story I mentioned previously observes. In fact, he claims, ‘by almost every economic measure we are significantly better off.’

“Many in the Middle Class feel quite differently. Don’t just take my word for it.

“Here’s what Bill Clinton thinks of the Obama economy: ‘millions and millions and millions and millions of people look at that pretty picture of America he painted and they cannot find themselves in it to save their lives.’

“Hardworking middle-class families simply ‘cannot find themselves’ in the picture this president has painted of the American economy.

“Median household incomes have shrunk under this president. Too many Americans have given up even looking for work altogether after years of failed attempts. One survey found more than half of Americans saying that ‘the next generation will be worse off than them financially.

“The Middle Class has now shrunk to such an extent under President Obama that it no longer constitutes a majority of Americans. That’s something none of us should take comfort in.

“I’d like to read you a quote from the president. I’m not sure he intended it, but President Obama said something a few months ago that seemed to sum up his economic legacy. ‘There was a time I think when upward mobility was the hallmark of America,’ he said. He’s right. There was a time. There can be a time again.

“We don’t have to accept the Obama economy as the new normal in our country. Democrats may want middle-class families to keep their gaze down and their expectations tempered, but we have a right to expect more in this country. We have a right to believe in the future.

“It’s clear we need a change to get America moving again.

“The Republican-led Senate will continue to look for and pass real solutions that aim to get our country back on track — solutions to help foster economic growth…solutions to help create jobs and strengthen our workforce…solutions to help America prosper once more.

“If President Obama wants to actually build an economic legacy for himself, not just try to spin Americans on one, then I invite him to finally join us.

“My Republican colleagues will have more to say on the economy this afternoon. I want to thank my colleague Senator Sullivan who has been outspoken on this important matter. I also want to thank Senator Coats, for his work to strengthen our economic policies as Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. These Senators know the costly toll the Obama economy has had on people in their home states, and they’re working to address it.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding Senate Democrats blocking the appropriations process with a filibuster:

“Let me quote to you from a letter I recently received from our colleagues across the aisle:

We are writing to reiterate our interest in working cooperatively to facilitate the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations process…As we see it, restoring the regular order promises not only a more open and transparent process, but a chance for senators on both sides of the aisle to participate meaningfully in funding decisions. This is a win-win opportunity and we should seize it together.

“That’s exactly what we’ve been doing.

“The appropriations process was off to a strong start, an ‘excellent kickoff’ in the words of the top Appropriations Committee Democrat, with bills passing through the committee by unanimous, bipartisan votes. ‘If this is the way it is going to be to move appropriations,’ she said just a few days ago, then, quote, ‘I think it is a good day.’

“Democrats lauded the first bill on the floor, and in press releases, for helping promote American jobs and for addressing the cleanup of radioactive and hazardous contamination across the country. They praised its key investments in research and water infrastructure.

“Then, they filibustered it.

“The very same people who wrote that letter. The very same people who praised the bill. The very same people who took credit for amendments to the bill.

“It seems Democrats are more concerned with funding the acquisition of heavy water from Iran than funding water infrastructure here in America.

“As we all know, President Obama concluded a nuclear deal with Iran last year. Tehran is expected to reap approximately $100 billion thanks to that deal, and the Obama Administration itself has admitted that the Iranian regime is likely to use that windfall to invest in its war economy — to defend its regime and to strengthen the hand of the Revolutionary Guards, a group that’s been accused of helping Shi’ite militias attack and kill American soldiers in Iraq.

“Many of us, including myself, warned that this deal made little sense in terms of our regional strategy. We warned that it would enhance Iran’s capability and power. And indeed, since signing President Obama’s deal, Iran has tested ballistic missiles, it’s deployed forces to Syria in support of the Assad regime, and it’s harassed American ships and those of our allies within the Persian Gulf.

“So when the Administration made an announcement over the weekend that it would be purchasing so-called ‘heavy water’ from Iran, a lot of us were concerned. That’s right, U.S. funds would be sent to Iran. Nothing in the President’s deal with Iran required the United States to make that purchase, and it likely will effectively amount to even more money for Iran to invest in its military modernization.

“Senator Cotton filed an amendment to prevent the money we’re appropriating here from being used for more of these purchases in the future. His amendment does not put the Secretary of Energy’s current heavy-water purchase agreement at risk. It simply strives to keep our Treasury from subsidizing the modernization of Iran’s military, or the procurement of ballistic missiles or air defenses that may be used against America or her allies. I support his policy objective.

“Democrats apparently do not. They filibustered the overall bill — a bill that passed committee with unanimous bipartisan support, remember — to prevent even the possibility of voting on this amendment. They could hardly wait a single week before throwing an obstructionist wrench into the appropriations process they claimed to want.

“I certainly hope Democrats are not dusting off the old Filibuster Summer playbook, especially in light of the letter they just sent me about ‘win-win’ opportunities and restoring regular order.

“Perhaps the most galling thing about Democrats again trying to blow up the appropriations process is this. They filibustered this appropriations bill then walked into a press conference about Zika funding. But the appropriations process is the path for that funding!

“Preventing the spread of Zika is something both parties agree is a priority. The Administration currently has funds to address the issue but has requested additional funds by the end of next month. Both Republicans and Democrats have been looking at different approaches to properly address the situation. The Senior Democratic Senator from Washington recently characterized that bipartisan, collaborative process as moving forward ‘in good faith.’ That’s especially notable when you consider how difficult it is for a committee to move forward when the Administration keeps it waiting month after month for information it needs, as has been the case here with Zika. But progress was being made anyway. Then, Democrats filibustered and upended the process.

“So how do we move forward now? The second-ranking Senate Democratic leader once shared some wisdom that seems particularly relevant.

“If you don't want to fight fires, don't be a firefighter.

“If you don't want to come to Congress and vote on tough issues, get another job somewhere else.

“Here’s the message to our Democratic colleagues: Do your job.

“There are other areas where both sides have been able to find common ground. We’ve seen the truth of that in the many important solutions passed by this Republican-led Senate already.

“Permanent tax relief for families and small businesses. Groundbreaking education reform that empowers parents and prevents Washington from imposing Common Core. The first long-term transportation solution in years, a solution that will finally allow us to address crumbling roads and infrastructure.

“Whether it’s pay raises for our troops, help for our veterans, or hope for the victims of human trafficking, we got a lot done last year with hard work and cooperation. We’ve gotten more done this year with hard work and cooperation too.

“In the past few months we’ve passed a comprehensive North Korea sanctions bill, a bill to permanently ban Internet access taxes, a measure to give the public more access to government records, a bill to help safeguard American intellectual property from theft, and critical legislation to help address our nation’s prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. Just last week, we passed both the most pro-passenger, pro-security FAA reauthorization in years and the first major energy legislation since the Bush Administration.

“We now have a bipartisan opportunity to responsibly work through individual funding bills. We now have a bipartisan opportunity to responsibly continue addressing funding issues like Zika.

“What it will take is for our Democratic colleagues to end this obstruction and work cooperatively across the aisle instead. That’s not too much to ask. So let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

“I believe that when you give Senators and the people they represent more of a say in the legislative process, they’re bound to take more of a stake in the legislative outcome — regardless of party. That’s why we’ve empowered committees and members to take the lead in more areas. That’s how we’ve gotten the Senate back to work in so many ways. I think members in both parties have seen the benefits of it.

“So yes, some may see a short-term political benefit in blowing up the appropriations process now, but I’d also ask my friends to remember this.

“Restoring the appropriations process is something we all should want.

“Democrats have said it’s what they want. Republicans have said it’s what we want. It’s what I set out to do.

“I think it’s the best way to give individual Senators in both parties more of a voice for their constituents in the funding process, to empower them to make smarter decisions about how taxpayer dollars are spent.

“So we’re going to give our colleagues an opportunity today to reconsider this filibuster. They don’t have to block the appropriations process, which is the path for funding priorities like Zika. I hope they’ll make the right choice.

“We’ve gotten so much done already with hard work and cooperation, I know there’s much more we can accomplish for our country with a little more of each.

“Let’s keep striving to get more done for our country, together.”

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

“It’s been six years since the flawed health care policies of Obamacare were signed into law. And six years later, my office continues to receive stories from Kentuckians who are reeling from the negative effects of this partisan law.

“Take for instance the heartbreaking story from one middle class husband and father of two from Covington who suffered a heart attack at the age of 42. Under Obamacare, this Kentucky dad has seen his health care premium triple and his deductible increase to, as he put it, a ‘ridiculous’ amount. He says he struggles to afford his medicine — which he says costs upwards of a thousand dollars a month — as he and his family struggle to survive ‘week to week.’

“Put simply, he says, Obamacare is a ‘terrible blight on the health care system’ that has resulted in more ‘expensive, watered down, unaffordable health care for the middle class.’

“Unfortunately, too many American families have had similar experiences under this Administration’s partisan law. Because from the start, this health care policy was built on a mountain of higher costs and broken promises, which only seem to grow larger by the day.

“When it comes to Obamacare, costs in the exchange are higher than its champions expected.

“A recent study found that Obamacare exchange individual market enrollees experienced higher medical costs than people insured through employer provided coverage – 19 percent higher in 2014 and 22 percent higher last year.
When it comes to Obamacare, it simply does not work like its champions promised either.

“As a result, we’ve seen increasing numbers of insurers pull out of the Obamacare marketplace altogether. Just last week, we learned that the nation’s largest health insurer will join the list, withdrawing from all but a ‘handful of states’ next year. Including Kentucky.

“What this means is that Americans in my home state and across much of the nation are likely to face even fewer health insurance options.

“According to one analysis, if this insurer withdrew from the exchange market altogether, nearly 2 million marketplace enrollees would be left with only two insurers while more than a million more would be left with only one. But fewer choices could also mean even higher premium costs. As one expert put it, ‘Either insurers will drop out or insurers will raise premiums.’

“This only adds to the many Kentuckians who've already seen their premiums spike under Obamacare. Like the retired police officer whose premium increased to nearly $5,000 a year, which he ‘simply cannot afford.’ Or the Kentuckian whose rate tripled, leaving him uninsured and forced to pay a fine at the end of the year.

“Not surprisingly, the insurance industry’s chief spokesperson — who is a former top Obama Administration official, by the way — is bracing the public for even more premium increases in the year to come. And the Administration’s answer? More money from taxpayers. Whether they call it a risk corridor, or a premium subsidy, or reinsurance mechanisms, the source is still the same…the American taxpayer.

“The bottom line is this: Americans continue to be unfairly hurt by a health care law that was forced on them through backroom deals and littered with broken promises.

“Too many have seen their premiums and deductibles skyrocket. Too many have suffered from tax increases and lost coverage. And now, too many are set to face even fewer choices and ‘significant price hikes’ in the year to come.

“Middle class families have endured the broken promises and failures of Obamacare for far too long. It’s past time for Democrats to own up to the many disappointments of this law and help us move toward better health care policies for our country.”

Recent Press Releases

McConnell on Obama Economy: It’s Clear We Need a Change to Get America Moving Again

May 11, 2016

McConnell to Senate Democrats: ‘Do Your Job’

‘It seems Democrats are more concerned with funding the acquisition of heavy water from Iran than funding water infrastructure here in America.’

April 28, 2016

Obamacare Continues to Hurt Middle Class Families

‘Middle class families have endured the broken promises and failures of Obamacare for far too long. It’s past time for Democrats to own up to the many disappointments of this law and help us move toward better health care policies for our country.’

April 27, 2016