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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor urging Senators to start debate on a 21st Century American trade agenda:

“The Senate will have the opportunity this afternoon to open the legislative process for a broad, 21st Century American trade agenda.

“Let me remind Senators that the vote we’re taking today is not a vote to approve or disprove of Trade Promotion Authority. In fact, the bill we’d be voting to proceed to is simply a placeholder that will allow us to open the broad debate on trade our country needs.

“Voting yes to open debate on a 21st Century American trade agenda offers every member of this body the chance to stand up for American workers, American farmers, American entrepreneurs, and American manufacturers.

“It’s a chance to stand with Americans for economic growth, opportunity, and good jobs.

“Selling products stamped ‘Made in America’ to the many customers who live beyond our borders is key.

“That’s true across our country.

“It’s true in my home state of Kentucky.

“We know that Kentucky already boasts more than half a million jobs related to trade.

“We know that nearly a quarter of Kentucky’s manufacturing workers depend on exports for their jobs.

“And we know that manufacturing jobs tied to exports pay about 18% more than non-export related jobs.

“So there’s every reason to knock down more unfair international trade barriers and bring more benefits back to Americans, right here at home.

“According to one estimate, Kentucky alone could see thousands more jobs and millions more in economic investment if we enact smart agreements with countries in Europe and the Pacific.

“We also know how important these types of agreements are to our national security. Especially in the Pacific region. Just last week, seven former defense secretaries from both political parties wrote to express their ‘strongest possible support’ on the issue.

“‘The stakes are clear,’ they wrote. ‘There are tremendous strategic benefits… [and] America’s prestige, influence, and leadership are on the line.’

“If we care about preserving and extending American leadership in the 21st Century, then we cannot cede the most dynamic region in the world to China.

“It’s true from a national security perspective. And it’s true from an economic perspective.

“But first, we need fair and enforceable trade legislation that expands congressional oversight over the Administration and sets clear rules and procedures for our trade negotiators.

“We have all those things in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act – a bill that passed out of the Finance Committee, 20 to 6, with strong support from both parties.

“We should start the process of building on that bipartisan momentum now.

“I know the opportunity to consider complex legislation via regular order became too uncommon in recent years. That’s changing now. The Senate may still be a little rusty though.

“So I want to be clear about what today’s vote is.

“This is a vote to begin a process.

“This is a vote to begin a debate on a broad trade agenda.

“Yes, TPA will be a part of that debate. But Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA, will be too.

“Now there are many members on my side of the aisle who have real reservations about TAA. I do as well. But I expect that at the end of this process – after the Senate works its will – that TAA will be a part of the package the Senate sends to the House.

“The top Democrat on the Finance Committee made it clear at the markup of these trade bills that TAA needed to run alongside TPA. I know that the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hatch, has also been working toward that end.

“And the Finance Committee didn’t just mark up TPA and TAA. It also marked up the African Growth and Opportunity Act and passed the Generalized System of Preferences bill by voice vote.

“It reported a Customs and Enforcement bill by voice vote too.

“So while TPA is clearly the centerpiece of the trade agenda before us, there is also bipartisan support for other bills reported by the Finance Committee.

“Now I know we’ve heard some concern that those bills might get left behind. I don’t think that was anyone’s intent. I expect to have a robust amendment process that will allow trade-related amendments to be offered and considered, including on the subject matters that the committee dealt with. The underlying substitute will be a compromise between the two parties, marrying TAA and TPA.

“But let me repeat: The measure before us will be open for amendment and I expect that other trade policies considered by the committee, and possibly more, will be debated on the floor. I also expect that Chairman Hatch and Senator Wyden will be working hard to get as much done as they can on all of these proposals.

“I know that Chairman Hatch wants to find a path forward on all of these bills.

“I know that Senator Wyden and Chairman Ryan spent a lot of time working through TAA, and — despite the objections of many on our side — it is likely to be included in any trade bill that passes the Senate.

“I'm confident that an enduring agreement can be found if the Senate is allowed to work its will and debate openly.

“All we are voting on today is whether to have that debate.

“If there are Senators with concerns about particular details of the trade agenda before us, that’s all the more reason to vote to debate it. Let’s have those conversations in an open and transparent way. Let’s give the American people a full-throated debate on an important issue.

“But we can't debate any of the provisions Senators want to consider if they vote to filibuster even getting on this bill. So I'm calling on colleagues to prove they're serious about wanting to pass legislation, rather than simply looking for new and creative ways to defeat legislation. Voting to proceed is the way to prove it.

“All the good committee work I mentioned demonstrates a real hunger to process bipartisan trade legislation.

“So let’s vote to build on that today.

“Let’s vote to open debate on a 21st Century American trade agenda. Let’s not slam the door on even the opportunity of having that debate.”

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

“I took a trip up to Boston this weekend to address the Kennedy Institute. It was a unique experience.

“I was there — in a full-scale representation of the Senate chamber — to discuss how the real Senate is beginning to get back to work.

“I explained how committees are working again, so Senators can have more of a stake in the legislative process.

“I explained how we’re allowing more open floor debate and more amendment opportunities, so Senators can better represent the voices of their constituents.

“And I explained how we’re getting the fundamentals back on track, like passing a budget.

“This doesn’t mean we’ve ironed out all the Senate’s challenges.

“It doesn’t mean a new Era of Good Feelings beckons just around the corner.

“And it doesn’t mean an exertion of will won’t be necessary every now and then.

“But it does mean we’re beginning to open the Senate back up, and in a way that will make shared achievement more likely.

***

“Recall just last week, when we overwhelmingly passed a bill to give the American people more of a say in President Obama’s negotiations with Iran. Although we weren’t able to consider nearly the number of amendments I’d like to have seen considered to strengthen that bill, the legislation did provide for congressional oversight of any comprehensive agreement.

“The White House had been threatening to veto that bill, but it passed with the bipartisan support of 98% of Senators anyway.

“Later this afternoon, we’ll take up another Iran-related measure that I hope we’ll pass with similar bipartisan enthusiasm.

“The Junior Senator from Idaho’s resolution is simple. It calls on the Administration to use the tools it has in pursuit of what should be a bipartisan goal: securing the release of American citizens being held as hostages by the regime in Iran.

“One of those Americans, Saeed Abedini, has reportedly been held prisoner for what would appear to be the supposed ‘crime’ of attempting to build and operate an orphanage.

“Beaten, denied access to medical care, and locked away in solitary confinement — that’s apparently how the Iranian regime deals with those who dare to show love and compassion to others.

“No American should find this acceptable.

“Just as no American should find it acceptable to unjustly imprison a reporter, or a grandson coming to see his grandmother.

“I think we can all agree that, at the very least, the American government should not be rewarding Iran for its disgraceful human-rights abuses — that we should not be granting Iran access to the funding it desires to further its nuclear weapons program and terrorist proxies while this exploitation continues.

“So I call on every Senator to join us in standing up for human rights. Let’s pass Senator Risch’s legislation later this afternoon.

***

“I mentioned earlier that committees are beginning to get back to work in the new Senate.

“We’ve seen a lot of bipartisan committee action in recent weeks.

“One standout achievement was the Finance Committee’s overwhelming passage of bipartisan trade legislation, 20 to 6.

“It’s incredibly important for American workers that we pass this bill.

“Without it, foreign countries will continue to be able to discriminate against American products and American produce, while we have some of the lowest duties in the world.

“We need strong and fair trade legislation that expands Congress’ oversight over the Administration and sets clear rules and standards for its trade negotiators.

“That’s the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act in a nutshell.

“And yet, some talk about preventing the Senate from even debating this bill. I think this is a mistake. The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act reported by the Finance Committee is already a strong bill, and we’ll have an amendment process on the floor that will allow members an opportunity to advance their priorities.

“Voting to proceed to a bill is a vote that says ‘this is worthy of debate.’ Well, this bill is worthy of debate.

“So I commend Chairman Hatch, Ranking Member Wyden, and their colleagues on the Finance Committee for getting us this far. My hope is that we can continue this debate tomorrow.”

LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement recognizing the 70th anniversary of V-E Day:

“Today we mark the 70th anniversary of V-E Day. The fall of the Third Reich and the end of the war in Europe represented a momentous victory for our country and the world. It was a victory that liberated millions, but it was a victory won at a terrible cost: the lives of countless young American and Allied soldiers, including thousands of Kentuckians. We will remain forever indebted to the brave veterans who helped make that outcome possible. It’s a debt I’m reminded of every time I have the privilege of meeting with groups of Honor Flight veterans during their visits to the World War II Memorial in Washington. As World War II recedes further into the past, sadly, we are losing more of these living legends. The passage of time makes it all the more important that we thank these heroes for their service before it’s too late.”

Recent Press Releases

McConnell Urges Senate to Begin Debate on Bipartisan Trade Bill

May 12, 2015

McConnell Discusses Senate Getting Back to Work, Previews Trade and Iran Legislation

May 11, 2015

Recognizing the 70th Anniversary of V-E Day

As World War II recedes further into the past, sadly, we are losing more of these living legends. The passage of time makes it all the more important that we thank these heroes for their service before it’s too late.’

May 8, 2015