News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding bi-partisan education reform:

“Last November, the American people elected a new Congress to get Washington working again.

“Nearly every day seems to bring more signs that we are.

“Over the weekend, President Obama signed the FAST Act, a multi-year highway bill, into law.

“It represents a significant departure from years of short-term extensions and congressional inaction.

“In fact, the FAST Act is the longest-term highway bill to pass Congress in almost two decades, proving 5 full years of highway funding.

“Here’s what Kentuckians for Better Transportation — a top transportation advocacy organization in the commonwealth — had to say about it:

“‘After many, many years of short term continuing resolutions we finally have a long term authorization that will give our states the opportunity to plan for and implement major road projects,’ they said, and now ‘we can plan for the future.’

“That’s because, in a new and more open Senate, Senator Inhofe, a Republican, and Senator Boxer, a Democrat, were able to work together for its passage.

“Senator Boxer herself called it ‘a major accomplishment.’

“Here’s another major accomplishment.

“The Every Student Succeeds Act.

“It’s a bipartisan, reformist replacement for No Child Left Behind.

“Pundits said Washington could never agree on how to replace No Child Left Behind. The issue went unresolved for many years.

“But in a new and more open Senate, Senator Alexander, a Republican, and Senator Murray, a Democrat, worked hard and found success in the bill before us.

“The House already passed it, 359-64.

“The Senate previously passed a very similar version of the bill too, 81-17.

“Tomorrow, we should work together to pass it for a second and final time—and send it to the President for his signature.

“It will be the latest important achievement for the American people, from a new Congress that’s back to work and back on their side.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement in advance of the President’s speech to the nation:

“As we approach the last year of President Obama's term, Americans understand that the terrorist threat has evolved but not vanished—and it has certainly not been ‘contained.’ Whether ISIL terrorists are training in camps in Syria or using online magazines to instruct and inspire lone wolves, they represent a serious threat to this country and now is the time to prepare our nation for defeating ISIL abroad in order to protect Americans at home. The President has the opportunity tonight to tell the American people how he is willing to adapt to the threat and how he can better prepare our nation for a fight that will inevitably be passed on to his successor.

“He should tell us what legal authorities he needs to defeat encrypted online communications, and what is needed to reestablish our capture, interrogation, and surveillance capabilities. He should tell us how the coalition or NATO will forge a ground force capable of not just attempting to ‘contain’ ISIL within its interior lines in Iraq and Syria — even as the group expands its reach into other countries — but actually driving it from Raqqa. He should tell us the force structure and funding our commanders will need to rebuild so we can continue and expand this fight while facing other threats around the globe. And he should explain why he won’t use the secure facility at Guantanamo Bay to safely hold and interrogate newly captured terrorists in order to help prevent the next plot against innocent Americans.

“If he does these things, it will show that he has learned in office and cast off old campaign promises in favor of serious solutions to protect Americans at home and our allies abroad, and it will show that he is committed to leaving our nation better prepared for his successor.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Senate passage today of a five-year transportation bill, the longest-term transportation bill to pass Congress in almost two decades. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act provides 5 years of fully paid for transportation funding and long-term certainty in a fiscally responsible way.

“While Kentucky has a strong network of interstates, highways and parkways, it’s obvious to anyone who has driven in the Commonwealth lately that many important transportation infrastructure projects are in urgent need of repair. This disrepair complicates and delays the commutes of the millions of Kentucky drivers and businesses who rely on our roads and bridges every day,” Senator McConnell said. “In previous years, Congress processed only short-term highway funding extensions, which made vital transportation projects difficult to undertake and manage. Under the new Senate, I made transportation infrastructure a priority and led the Senate in taking bipartisan action to meaningfully improve our roads and bridges over the coming years. Many said that a long-term highway bill would never pass Congress, but we proved them wrong – we proved it could actually pass by a wide, bipartisan margin.”

“This bipartisan, long-term highway and transportation bill which I helped shepherd through the Senate provides five years of guaranteed funding and stability for interstate highway projects and gives state and local governments more flexibility in how they spend federal transportation dollars. And most importantly, it would also support jobs in Kentucky and across the nation as these and other important infrastructure projects get underway,” Senator McConnell added.

Kentuckians for Better Transportation (KBT) -- the Commonwealth’s major transportation advocacy group -- thanked Senator McConnell for his work in passing the legislation: “Congress passing the five-year FAST Act transportation funding bill is a major victory for Kentucky commuters and businesses that rely on our vital transportation network and it would not have happened without Senator McConnell’s leadership. KBT thanks Senator McConnell for making transportation infrastructure a top priority in the Senate and for his pushing this important bill through Congress,” said Juva Barber, Executive Director of KBT.

Beyond providing five years of funding certainty to the Commonwealth for transportation projects -- which is prioritized in Frankfort -- the FAST Act includes a number of measures that could specifically benefit Kentucky, including:

Natcher Parkway/I-65 Spur designation

Designates the existing Natcher Parkway between Bowling Green and Owensboro an official Spur of I-65 in an effort to help attract additional economic development to the region. Representative Brett Guthrie (KY-02) worked on the provision in the House of Representatives.

Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects

Makes it easier for Kentucky to compete for federal funding to help advance major transportation infrastructure projects like the Brent Spence Bridge that have not been funded through existing resources. $4.5 billion is provided for this competitive program over the life of the bill.

National Highway Freight Program

Establishes a formula program -- funded at $6.2 billion over life of the bill -- to improve highway infrastructure projects that are especially critical to the movement of freight, like the Brent Spence Bridge.

ARC High-speed broadband development initiative

Authorizes $50 million over the life of the bill for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to provide grants, technical assistance, training and equipment to the Appalachian region in an effort to increase affordable access to broadband networks, distance learning opportunities, telehealth technologies, and promote e-commerce applications.

“With a long-term highway and transportation bill we can rebuild our infrastructure, ease growing congestion, and improve traffic safety for Kentuckians. We can support jobs and boost the economy by undertaking new construction and by helping Kentucky farmers and businesses get their products to market. And we can keep Kentucky drivers moving safely and efficiently over our state’s roads and bridges,” Senator McConnell said. “Today’s passage of the highway and transportation bill is just the latest reminder of what’s possible in a new and more open Senate. It’s an achievement for the American people—an achievement that only the new majority in Congress has been able to deliver.”

Recent Press Releases

Education Bill a Bipartisan, Reformist Replacement for No Child Left Behind

‘Last November, the American people elected a new Congress to get Washington working again. Nearly every day seems to bring more signs that we are.’

December 7, 2015

McConnell Previews President’s Speech

‘The President has the opportunity tonight to tell the American people how he is willing to adapt to the threat and how he can better prepare our nation for a fight that will inevitably be passed on to his successor.’

December 6, 2015

Senator McConnell Helps Deliver Long-Term Highway Bill to Benefit Kentucky

‘With a long-term highway bill we can rebuild our infrastructure, ease growing congestion, and improve traffic safety for Kentuckians. We can support jobs and boost the economy… And we can keep Kentuckians moving safely and efficiently over our state’s roads and bridges’

December 3, 2015