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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding Speaker Boehner’s invitation to Pope Francis to address a Joint Meeting of Congress:

“I commend Speaker Boehner on his invitation of Pope Francis to address a joint meeting of Congress. Through his simple words and gestures, Pope Francis has made the ‘Golden Rule’ shine again in the hearts of many and thus reminded all of us that love of neighbor is still the best foundation for a just society. Pope Francis has challenged people of all faiths and all political stripes to find new and creative ways to meet the urgent needs of those on the fringes of society, from the poor in the streets to the unborn, and we welcome the chance to hear his message of optimism and hope here in the U.S. Capitol, a worldwide symbol of freedom and opportunity for all. America’s mission statement, as described in the Declaration of Independence, points to the inherent dignity of every person. Through his words and most importantly through his actions, Pope Francis has called all of us to an even greater commitment to this first principle of our nation’s Founding. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming this man who has captured the imagination of countless people around the world and sparked a renewed concern among all for the challenges and the struggles of the poorest among us.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell hosted Mrs. Kari Wagner, a native of Meade County, Kentucky, and thanked her for her work to collect signatures and messages from Members of Congress for the America 4 Boston Prayer Canvas. Senator McConnell signed the canvas in the U.S. Capitol and invited his colleagues to participate.

Download the photos HERE

The America 4 Boston Prayer Canvas is a grass-roots effort started by Kari and six more mothers in response to the attacks at the Boston Marathon in April 2013. Kari describes their creation of the prayer canvas as a “giant symbol of America’s compassion, resilience, and unity,” as more than 50,000 people have signed the canvas and written messages to honor the victims, survivors and the city of Boston. Within the past year, the prayer canvas has grown to nearly 19,000 square feet and will be spread out in the Boston Common on the day of the bombing anniversary, April 15th. The completed prayer canvas will be presented to the city of Boston at the Boston Red Sox game on April 20th.

Senator McConnell welcomed Kari to the U.S. Capitol saying, “I commend the nationwide efforts of Kari and her team and I was privileged to be able to host the prayer canvas in the Senate. The America 4 Boston Prayer Canvas is a noble way to remember and honor the people of Boston, especially the many victims, survivors, and their families.”

While set up in the U.S. Capitol corridors gathering signatures, Kari Wagner said, “the reason we started this was to show the community spirit of America; the prayer canvas serves as giant symbol of America’s compassion, resilience, and unity. Throughout the past year, we have been overwhelmed by the perception and engagement in our efforts.”

Last summer, the prayer canvas traveled to the Commonwealth and Kentuckians in Elizabethtown and Brandenburg participated and wrote messages to show their support.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor calling on the Obama Administration to reject a proposed IRS rule that would suppress American free speech:

“I’d like to take a moment to address the anti-free speech regulation the Obama Administration has made a priority for this term. It’s a regulation that comes in the wake of an unprecedented IRS attack on Americans’ civil liberties, and it represents a direct assault on the First Amendment.

“First, let’s be clear: this is not some partisan issue. Right across the political spectrum, the American people agree that this regulation is a terrible idea. That’s probably why it’s generated more public backlash than any similar regulation in our lifetimes.

“Americans on the Left hate it.

“Americans on the Right hate it.

“Unions, business groups, environmentalists, conservatives, and the ACLU, all of them have expressed concern.

“It’s pretty rare to see a coalition that broad agree on anything in Washington.

“And yet, it’s easy to see why Americans would be so united in opposition to this regulation. The First Amendment exists to protect political speech. And the government should be doing everything it can to protect that right, not hurt it.

“That’s why you saw a record number of Americans register their complaints with the IRS. In fact, there were more than 140,000 comments in all, which I hear is just about the highest number ever received in the agency’s history.

“And let’s not forget. The IRS has a long way to go to regain the public’s trust these days. Too many Americans look at the agency and see an instrument of political harassment, rather than a bureau of tax processers.

“So if the agency wants to regain trust and return to its true mission, then it’s simply got to get out of the speech regulation business altogether.

“And the Obama Administration can do that.

“Look: the Administration ran this idea up the flagpole. It decided in the midst of a historic crisis of public confidence at the IRS to upend more than a half century of practice and rewrite the rules on how Americans could exercise their right to be heard. They asked for comments. And the American people let them know what they thought.

“So this regulation needs to go. And it needs to go now.

“It is in the Administration’s power to make that happen.

“All it has to do is listen to the American people who are speaking out in record numbers – and put an end, for good, to the idea that the law should be used to harm political enemies.

“Let’s protect the First Amendment and restore integrity to the IRS.”

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Recent Press Releases

McConnell Lauds Speaker Boehner’s Invitation to Pope Francis to Address a Joint Meeting of Congress

March 13, 2014

Senator McConnell Welcomes the America 4 Boston Prayer Canvas to the Nation’s Capital

March 13, 2014

Download the photos HERE

McConnell Urges Obama Administration to Reject Anti-First Amendment Rule

‘And yet, it’s easy to see why Americans would be so united in opposition to this regulation. The First Amendment exists to protect political speech. And the government should be doing everything it can to protect that right, not hurt it.’

March 13, 2014