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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act:

“Today’s overwhelming bipartisan vote is just the latest example of a new Congress that’s back to work for the American people.

“For many victims of child-pornography, the pain doesn’t end when the images are produced. Years-long cycles of replication and distribution make it difficult for victims to move on, and many find it almost impossible to obtain restitution under current law. That’s why the Senate passed this important bill today; to help victims regain hope and dignity by helping them reclaim justice from those who profited off their pain.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement today responding to a senior EPA official who acknowledged that the agency declined to hold public listening sessions on proposed anti-coal regulations in places like Kentucky and West Virginia because visiting the heart of coal country would have made them uncomfortable. Janet McCabe, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for its Office of Air and Radiation, said in response to a question by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) at a congressional hearing that that EPA chose locations for public listening sessions on its proposed carbon dioxide emissions rules for power plants based on “where people were comfortable coming.”

“On several occasions over the past two years, I urged the EPA to come to Kentucky to speak directly to those most impacted by its anti-coal regulations and to get a first-hand view of the effects of the War on Coal. The EPA repeatedly denied our requests,” Senator McConnell said. “We knew this administration had no interest in visiting coal country, and now we know why – because it makes them uncomfortable to look Kentucky coal miners and their families in the eye and tell them what they plan to do to their communities. As this administration continues to take steps to destroy the coal industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Kentuckians, I will continue the fight against these job-destroying regulations and make sure the Administration is forced to face the reality of what they’re doing to those in coal country.”

Background: EPA held listening sessions across the country to gauge public sentiment on its proposed anti-coal regulations. Notably, the agency refused to hold any of its hearings in two states that would most adversely be affected by its proposed regulations--Kentucky and West Virginia—holding listening sessions on proposed anti-coal regulations in cities like New York, Boston, Seattle and San Francisco instead. Because of the EPA’s repeated refusals to visit coal country, Sen. McConnell held his own listening session at the University of Pikeville on December 6, 2013. He also attended two of the EPA’s Washington D.C. sessions in both 2013 and 2014.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor calling on Senate Democrats to end their filibuster of the DHS funding bill:

“Democrats are blockading Homeland Security funding in order to defend executive overreach the President said himself he couldn’t take — many times over.

“As I indicated yesterday, this is the reason the Senate can't move forward. So it needs to end. And here's the simplest and most obvious way it can.

“Many Democrats previously indicated opposition to the kinds of overreach described by President Obama as ‘unwise and unfair.’

“So all they have to do is back those words up with action.

“If Democrats claim to be against overreach and claim to be for funding the critical activities of the Department of Homeland Security, then there’s no reason for them to continue their party’s filibuster.

“So vote with us to allow the Senate to actually debate Homeland Security funding instead.

“We’ve already offered a fair and open debate that would allow for amendments from both parties.

“If the bill needs to be amended, that’s when it could be.

“So this is about Democrats being confronted with a choice: filibuster funding for Homeland Security to protect overreach President Obama himself referred to as ‘ignoring the law,’ or allow the Senate to debate, vote on, and amend the very funding they claim to want.”

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Recent Press Releases

McConnell Lauds Passage of the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act

‘That’s why the Senate passed this important bill today; to help victims regain hope and dignity by helping them reclaim justice from those who profited off their pain.’

February 11, 2015

Senator McConnell Condemns Comments Made by EPA Official

Senior EPA official said they didn’t hold public hearings in coal country because visiting would have made them uncomfortable

February 11, 2015

McConnell Calls on Senate Democrats to Drop Their Filibuster of DHS Funding Bill

‘If Democrats claim to be against overreach and claim to be for funding the critical activities of the Department of Homeland Security, then there’s no reason for them to continue their party’s filibuster.’

February 11, 2015