url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=9C81807A-19D9-439F-9708-50C1DC32AABA,McConnell and Comer Help Secure Over $3.3 Million for Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Improvements,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Representative James Comer (KY-01) announced today the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will distribute $3,320,000 to the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority (PMCRA) to fund infrastructure improvements at the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport. DOT distributed these funds through their Port Infrastructure Development Program’s competitive grant process. Senator McConnell and Representative Comer wrote letters to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in support of PMCRA’s grant application.

PMCRA will use the funds allocated through this grant to modernize the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport’s material handling equipment, repair damaged facilities, and upgrade site conditions at their bulk yard. These upgrades will ensure reliable throughput for agriculture and construction supply chains, bolstering economic development in the quad-state area.

“The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport is one of the most important transportation hubs in all of Kentucky. Situated at the heart of America’s inland waterway system, the port forms a vital link in the supply chains that serve consumers and businesses across the Commonwealth. It is more important than ever to be able to move much-needed materials in and out of our state efficiently,” said Senator McConnell. “Today’s grant announcement is a major step forward in the modernization and improvement of Kentucky’s river infrastructure. I was proud to stand alongside Congressman Comer and the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority in advocating for this grant’s approval.”

“The Paducah-McCracken County riverport is vital to safely transporting the commodities America’s economy relies on. Given its strategic location and key role in the shipment of goods, Paducah is the perfect recipient of this competitive grant to improve economic development and inland waterway transportation in the United States,” said Congressman James Comer. “I’m eager to see this quality investment in Kentucky’s waterways get off the ground, and was happy to join Senator McConnell in successfully pushing for this funding.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=F00C6AD6-8591-47DD-B6E3-C53B74363344,McConnell: Democrats Have Little to Show for 11 Months Running Pandemic Response,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration and COVID-19:

“Every American is rooting for our country in the continued fight against COVID-19. But 11 months into the Biden Administration, we need an honest accounting.

“In 2020, then-candidate Biden promised he would ‘shut down the virus.’ Now new cases in our major cities are breaking records. When the virus had killed 220,000 Americans, then-candidate Biden said ‘anyone who’s responsible for that many deaths should not remain as President of the United States.’ Now we have lost 800,000 and counting.

“Last week, Vice President Harris said their Administration was surprised and caught off guard by new variants such as delta and omicron. But new variants were public knowledge before this Administration took office.

“Democrats’ springtime ‘rescue plan’ spent just 9% on the health fight and 91% on other issues. The Biden Administration has also taken hundreds of millions of dollars from COVID testing and the Strategic National Stockpile and diverted it to their border crisis.

“As a result, eleven months into this Administration, we are still woefully short on rapid and affordable testing. Americans seeking tests before the holidays are facing massive lines and empty shelves.

“Eleven months in, we are still short on important treatments such as monoclonal antibodies.

“Eleven months in, a promising new antiviral pill was only belatedly approved today by the FDA and the Biden Administration preordered too little, too late.

“Eleven months in, with a predictable seasonal surge threatening hospitals, the Administration has inexplicably only just begun releasing funding that Congress set aside for health providers.

“Months ago, Senate Republicans wrote the Biden Administration asking why they were limiting important treatments and if they had any plans to guard against future variants. They never responded.

“Washington Democrats spent 2021 chasing unrelated far-left ambitions and largely sleepwalking through the pandemic.

“A million Americans per day were getting vaccinated before President Biden took office. What new tools have Democrats added to the fantastic vaccines they inherited? Where is their sequel to Operation Warp Speed? What do they have to show for 11 months?

“I continue to urge everyone to take advantage of the safe and effective vaccines which the Biden Administration inherited. They offer fantastic protection against hospitalization and death.

“At the same time, it is clear that vaccines will not completely halt transmission or new variants.

“This makes it even more unacceptable that the Biden Administration is only producing illegal mandates and angry, confrontational speeches about vaccines. This Administration’s careless and confusing rhetoric has stoked an avoidable culture war around these lifesaving tools which they inherited.

“The coronavirus will not simply disappear. Angry speeches about vaccines are not a strategy.

“Democrats must quit the distractions, get focused, and move toward a future where the coronavirus is not a perpetual crisis, but a fact of life that we manage and mitigate. More and cheaper tests. More and better treatments. More vaccinations, but with unity, not bitter rhetoric. No more lockdowns. And no more Big Labor veto over children’s in-person educations.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-releases-2021-festivusreport-government-waste/,Dr. Rand Paul Releases 2021 ‘Festivus’Reporton Government Waste,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 22, 2021

Contact: Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), chairman of the Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight (ETSO) Subcommittee for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released his 2021 “Festivus” Report, totaling over $52,598,515,585 billion in government waste.

This marks Dr. Paul’s and the subcommittee’s seventh edition of the Festivus Report as he continues working to alert the American people to how their federal government uses their hard-earned money.

Sections are broken down into COVID-19 spending, Afghanistan, and Miscellaneous.

You can find Dr. Paul’s 2021 Festivus Report HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2374FC54-6733-4A44-9EBD-E9E2EB0294F1,McConnell Helps Secure Over $115 Million in Pandemic Relief Funding for Kentucky Healthcare Providers,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will distribute more than $115 million in pandemic relief funding to 897 Kentucky healthcare providers through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These funds will be distributed as Phase 4 of the Provider Relief Fund, which was established through the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Senator McConnell secured a total of $178 billion for the Provider Relief Fund through several bipartisan COVID-19 relief packages he led to Senate passage last year. This September, the Senator also wrote a letter to the HHS Secretary advocating for Kentucky’s healthcare providers to receive these funds. Previously, this Administration had not released any of the allocated Provider Relief Fund despite its availability throughout 2021.

Kentucky’s relief funding comes as part of a nationwide, $9 billion payment to more than 69,000 healthcare providers who have experienced revenue loss or expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide average payment is $58,000 for small providers, $289,000 for medium providers, and $1.7 million for large providers.

“Nobody has felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as acutely as our healthcare providers, who have been on the front lines of this crisis since day one. Now, as many of these same heroes mobilize to assist with Kentucky’s tornado recovery efforts, they are also dealing with extensive pandemic-related expenses and revenue loss. Today’s relief funding announcement will go a long way toward easing that financial distress,” said Senator McConnell. “I was proud to lead several bipartisan COVID-19 relief bills to passage last year and help our healthcare providers receive the relief funding they need to survive. Kentucky and America simply cannot allow our healthcare providers to flounder while we still work to defeat the pandemic.”

“These funds will help cover the heavy losses that Baptist Health has faced in treating more than 21,000 COVID-19 patients due to the significant costs of the additional medical supplies, drugs and manpower needed for effective treatment. We thank Sen. McConnell for his role in facilitating these much-needed funds,” said Dr. Gerard Colman, CEO of Baptist Health.

“Owensboro Health is extremely appreciative of Senator McConnell’s ongoing efforts to empower health systems like ours as we meet the challenges of COVID-19,” Mark Marsh, Owensboro Health President and CEO, said. “This relief comes as we see an uptick in hospitalizations and prepare for another wave of the virus and new variants in our predominately rural service area.”

“We are extremely grateful for the additional Provider Relief Funds that have been released to providers to help cover the additional costs incurred from caring for patients with COVID. Patients with COVID require longer stays and more intense resources, many needing additional therapies, ICU care, or a ventilator. Extra supplies and Personal Protective Equipment are also required to prevent spread to associates and other patients. Meanwhile, supply costs and staffing costs have increased significantly during the pandemic due to shortages nationwide and capacity is being strained at St. Elizabeth and all hospitals requiring many to cancel elective surgeries and procedures at various points during the pandemic. The Provider Relief Fund established through Senator McConnell’s CARES Act have been critical in helping St. Elizabeth sustain high quality operations throughout the pandemic. Since we are experiencing another surge and cases are not declining, the newly released funds will help us to continue providing excellent care to our community,” said Garren Colvin, President and CEO St. Elizabeth Healthcare.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=4297A267-3E1E-4C68-BEC7-D2FFC98CE74A,McConnell Helps Secure $40 Million in Annual Funding for Kentucky Airports Over Five Years,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will distribute $40 million annually to fifty-one Kentucky airports over the next five years. These funds are made available through the Airport Infrastructure Grants program, which was established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earlier this year.

Senator McConnell supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and helped it pass the Senate this year. In total, the bipartisan bill allocated $25 billion to our nation’s airports, more of which will be distributed to Kentucky in the coming months. The funding announced today was allocated through a formula described in the legislation.

“Kentucky’s airports don’t just connect our citizens to the rest of the country and the world; they also form a critical part of America’s supply chain. It is more important than ever that our airports have the funds needed to operate effectively,” said Senator McConnell. “I supported the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earlier this year because of programs like this, which will help overhaul Kentucky’s transportation systems and revive our decaying roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, and river ports. This is just the kind of program Kentucky needs to compete in the 21st-century global economy.”

“We appreciate the support of Senator McConnell for the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “This funding will go a long way in supporting the continued improvements at SDF including our $400 million terminal modernization program and on-going sustainability initiatives such as our geothermal project to reduce our carbon footprint. These improvements allow us to provide a better, more accessible experience for the traveling public and support the needs of our airline partners while maintaining SDF as a crucial link in the nation’s aerospace system.”

“I am grateful for the hard work of Leader McConnell and many in Washington over these last several months to get the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act across the finish line. CVG will put more than $13 million per year to good use to lead the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati region’s economy out of the pandemic, focusing on capital investments that will support good-paying jobs and improved passenger services,” said Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=515E8CB4-DE74-4F36-ACFB-2235A323E76F,"Americans’ Christmas Wish: Stop the Reckless, Inflationary Far-Left Spending",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Two in three Americans want the federal government to ‘cut back on spending and printing money.’

“But our Democratic colleagues spent the last several months trying as hard as possible to do the opposite.

“Washington Democrats have spent months trying to borrow, print, and spend trillions more dollars, right into the teeth of the worst inflation in almost 40 years.

“They’ve sought to turn their monthly welfare entitlement with no work requirements from a temporary COVID measure into a permanent policy. Cash welfare with no work requirements, forever.

“76 percent of Americans say these handouts haven’t helped their families at all, yet Democrats want to dump in many billions more.

“Just step back and look at all the ways their left-wing wish list could hurt a young family in middle America.

“First, they’d need to cross their fingers that the private or employer-sponsored insurance they chose to meet their family’s specific needs isn’t shoved off a cliff in Democrats’ latest lurch toward more socialized medicine.

“And they’ll have to hope their war on the medical innovation sector doesn’t prevent the development of lifesaving cures their family might have relied on some years down the road.

“Say the family’s got one or two young kids. Maybe their ideal arrangement is church-based daycare. They’d need to say a prayer their faith-based center isn’t sued and chased out of business thanks to Washington Democrats’ toddler takeover.

“Their plan would give nothing to full-time parents, grandparent caregivers, nanny-shares, or neighborhood co-ops. It would push faith-based providers out of the public square by design. And it could inflate daycare costs by about $12,000 or $13,000 per child per year.

“If Democrats get their way, let’s hope neither parent is one of the many Americans who work in our domestic energy sector. Our colleagues’ bill has a huge pile of new red tape aimed at putting their industry out of business. But no matter where they work, they’ll face inflated prices to heat their homes and fill up at the gas pump.

“For all these bad ideas and many more, our colleagues wanted to spend trillions upon trillions more dollars right into the teeth of runaway inflation they have already caused.

“Yesterday, we got indications the far left’s slapdash sprint may be hitting the pause button.

“That would be great news for the American people.

“The best Christmas gift Washington could give working families would be putting this bad bill on ice.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=E2180E9A-3CEC-442A-A810-1089BBD7D963,"Denied $4.9T Spending Spree, Democrats Call for Breaking the Senate and Packing the Court",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding governing institutions:

“As cracks keep forming in the Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree, some of our colleagues seemed to channel their frustration into even more radical attempts to attack our governing institutions.

“In the span of a few hours, one Senate Democrat had renewed calls to ‘nuke’ the Senate and break the rules, and another published a national op-ed arguing that Democrats should attack the rule of law and pack the Supreme Court.

“Two frontal assaults on two branches of government, proposed in the space of about two hours!

“Entire generations of statesmen would have seen either one of those unhinged proposals as Armageddon for our institutions. Apparently, today’s Democrats try both at once and just call it Wednesday!

“We’ve heard false claims that the Senate obeying our rules to address the debt limit somehow paves the way for radicals to break the rules.

“And Madam President, I’d ask consent that an additional statement on that subject appear at a different place in the record.

“So, look — we have discussed over and over again why Democrats will not be allowed to federalize our elections and lord over all 50 states like a self-appointed board of elections on steroids.

“My colleagues across the aisle have pushed absurd bills that would do things like neuter Voter I.D. laws… make every state legalize ballot harvesting… turn the Federal Election Commission into a biased, partisan body… and even send taxpayer money to political campaigns.

“It isn’t about quote-unquote ‘voting rights.’ It’s a naked power grab.

“Democrats have been pushing the same kinds of bills for years, even as their stated justifications have changed wildly. When Republicans win elections or start polling well, Democrats and the media say our democracy badly broken, on death’s door and needs a radical overhaul. The answers presented are these policies.

“When Democrats win elections, Democrats and the media say our democracy is sterling, beyond reproach, and just needs some modest safeguards to protect the status quo. But again, the answers presented are these policies.

“Lately, their pretext has been demagogic attacks on reasonable state voting laws and proposals. If any state scraps any of the temporary pandemic procedures that Democrat operatives favor, the radical left says the sky is falling.

“But outside the liberal bubble, nobody buys this nonsense. The country is not buying the hysteria. On Election Day last month, even in deep blue New York, voters rejected liberal ballot measures that would have liberalized no-excuse absentee voting and loosened up the rules on voter registration.

“Not even blue New York wants these policies to weaken their elections. But some Democrats want to break the Senate and trash its rules to force these sorts of things on all 50 states?

“It’s beyond absurd.

“I understand my colleagues are frustrated they may not get to spend $4.9 trillion on their way out the door for Christmas. But believe me, lashing out at our democracy, at the Supreme Court, and at the Senate itself is not going to solve anything.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=F1A27B4D-CE25-4F0D-AA23-05BECBA22B13,McConnell Updates Senate on Kentucky Tornado Recovery,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the tornadoes in Western Kentucky:

“Western Kentucky is still reeling from last weekend’s devastating storm. But support is rolling in from around the Commonwealth, our region, and the country.

“Yesterday I spoke with the CEO of LifePoint Health. They operate ten hospitals in Kentucky including one in hard-hit Mayfield.

“Miraculously, their Jackson Purchase Medical Center survived the tornado mostly intact. Now, it is offering much-needed medical services.

“Nurses and doctors have worked day and night.

“LifePoint Health shipped water tankers to their facility to bolster local supply. And the company has pledged $1 million to help Kentucky rebuild.

“Across our region, individuals and companies are opening their hearts, homes, and wallets to help.

“We’ve received important assistance from here in Washington as well.

“Yesterday, the President announced the federal government will fund the entire cost of debris removal and emergency protective measures in the eight counties hardest hit by this storm for the next month. Local officials won’t need to worry about overstretched budgets. They can just focus on rebuilding.

“My team and I are working hard to continue connecting Kentuckians with the resources they need.

“I’ve set up a portal on my Senate office website to help my constituents access government assistance. It has a full list of services provided by our disaster response agencies.

“Because of the federal government’s swift action in the past week, victims of these tornadoes can access housing assistance, legal aid, crisis counseling, and more. I recommend every impacted Kentuckian take advantage of these resources. My office is here to help you navigate.

“I’ll travel back to Kentucky tomorrow to visit several of the communities that were hit hardest and meet with local leaders who are spearheading recovery efforts.

“I’ll listen to their concerns and bring their stories back to Washington to ensure they get the help they need.

“The scene on the ground in Western Kentucky is still devastating and discouraging. For far too many families, this Christmas will be tragically abnormal.

“But we will continue to work together to provide Kentucky with the resources it needs to recover, bigger and better than before.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=521CBC38-BA20-4E47-A64B-0BFB69199433,Senate Passes McConnell’s NDAA Amendment to Support Democracy in Burma,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) led the U.S. Senate to include his bipartisan Burma amendment in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate and will now be sent to the president for his signature.

Senator McConnell secured important provisions in this bipartisan amendment, which requires senior Administration officials to present to Congress within sixty days a strategy to impose costs on the military junta, legitimize representative organizations like the National Unity Government, restore democratic governance, and foster national reconciliation. The amendment was cosponsored by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).

“Earlier this year, Burma’s illegitimate, unelected military junta launched a coup against the country’s democratically-elected government. I strongly condemn these actions, as well as the indiscriminate violence they continue to commit against civilians and the show trials they have launched against their political opposition. To address this crisis, I led a bipartisan effort to reaffirm American support for democracy in Burma through the NDAA process. I’m proud my amendment was included in the final NDAA bill that passed the Senate earlier today,” said Senator McConnell. “Restoring Burma’s democratic development will require the United States to pursue a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to keep meaningful pressure on the junta and secure international recognition for Burma’s true, democratically-elected government. This amendment will ensure our Administration articulates and then advances a real strategy to hold the regime accountable and support democratic actors like the National Unity Government.”

“Senator McConnell has listened closely to our community and stood alongside us every step of the way as we work to restore democracy in Burma. This amendment is just the latest among a long list of actions Senator McConnell has taken to help Burma’s people,” said Jimmy Nyunt, a pro-democracy advocate from Burma who lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky. “The people of Burma have no greater advocate in Washington than Senator McConnell.”

This bipartisan amendment requires senior officials from the State Department, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Treasury Department, and Defense Department to personally appear before Congress to provide a briefing on specific U.S. policy and security objectives in Burma, including:

• An assessment of the impact of existing U.S. and international sanctions on Burma, as well as possible additional sanctions.

• Efforts to support Burma’s National Unity Government and other democratic actors such as the Civil Disobedience Movement, while denying legitimacy to the country’s military junta.

• Key objectives, including the restoration of democracy in Burma, the establishment of an inclusive and representative civilian government, the creation of a reformed military reflecting the diversity of the country and under civilian control, and the enactment of constitutional, political, and economic reforms.

• Accountability for atrocities and human rights violations in Burma, genuine national reconciliation among the country’s ethnic groups, and the release of political prisoners.

• A review of China and Russia’s strategic interests in Burma and any actions taken by these countries to support the junta, promote ethnic conflict, or undermine Burma’s sovereignty.

Senator McConnell has a long record of support for Burma’s democracy. Over several decades, he has led multiple efforts to sanction the country’s military junta and worked closely with Burma’s pro-democracy advocates, particularly Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to support the people of Burma.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=58A130D8-507D-419C-B690-0691648309AD,"Democrats’ Reckless Spree: Steep Costs, and Bad Policy, Too",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“I described yesterday how inflation is hurting families across the country.

“Since then, yet another key economic indicator has set an unfortunate record: In the last year, wholesale prices grew at their fastest pace on record.

“Anyone with a shred of sense knows this is the absolute wrong time to unleash a multi-trillion-dollar taxing and spending spree. Every single day brings new evidence our Democratic colleagues should give the country a break.

“But the cost of Washington Democrats’ latest obsession isn’t the only problem. The content of what they want to pass is just as bad.

“We’ve known since the start of the COVID pandemic that Democrats saw it as an opportunity to transform American society. They’ve said so in public.

“And the reckless taxing and spending spree they’re writing behind closed doors is a Trojan horse to let the radical left dictate intimate details to American families.

“There’s a long list of policies inspired by the authors of the Green New Deal. A whole slew of new programs and mandates aimed at fitting the entire country’s systems for producing and consuming energy into a California-shaped box.

“Special subsidies for expensive lifestyle choices like electric vehicles and electric bicycles.

“New red tape to strangle the most reliable and affordable sources of American energy.

“Subsidies for supply chains that China dominates, so America borrows in order to Build Back Beijing.

“And don’t forget the so-called ‘Civilian Climate Corps.’ Just what we need at a time of inflation and labor shortages — a Potemkin make-work program for liberal activists.

“Of course, Washington Democrats intend to grab greater control over the development of America’s young people long before they’re eligible for made-up green jobs.

“Their spree contains a massive ‘Toddler Takeover’ that insults the diversity of American families and their aspirations. It only throws money at a subset of secular childcare centers that woke bureaucrats favor.

“Forget faith-based options. Forget flexible, part-time arrangements. Forget being remotely fair to families with a parent at home. Democrats want to bring their inflation into childcare and make daycare more expensive, more inflexible, and more unfair.

“And then there’s the latest offensive in a long campaign to restrict more of Americans’ healthcare choices. Democrats’ plan would mean more one-size-fits-all programs, more government control, a wet blanket over the world-leading innovation pipeline that creates new cures, and a further gamble with seniors’ Medicare when the trust fund is already in danger of insolvency.

***

“Then there are the massive tax hikes our colleagues want to use to cover the bill.

“All those radical changes, all those Big Government intrusions into family life, come paired with crushing tax hikes that would hit our country like a ton of bricks.

“There are new surcharges on individual taxpayers. There are tax hikes for pass-through businesses. There’s a brand-new radical scheme to make American industries less competitive that Senate Democrats scribbled down with no hearings or committee process.

“President Biden promised he wouldn’t raise taxes one penny on anybody making less than $400,000. But experts agree that Democrats’ tax hikes would break that promise. People with far less income would be affected.

“For goodness’ sake, in 2022, their bill would give a bigger percentage tax cut to people making more than $1 million every year than to families that pull in between $75,000 and $100,000.

“That’s according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. The average person who makes upwards of a million dollars gets a bigger tax break from Democrats’ bill than the average household that makes just under six figures.

“In large part, that’s because of an absurdly expensive tax giveaway that Democrats want to hand out to benefit high income earners in blue states. Their ‘SALT’ policy would make the federal government subsidize the property tax bills of people with mansions who choose to live in high-tax states.

“It’s an insane proposition, and it’s struggling to even earn support from Democrats’ rank-and-file. But their leaders from New York and California are obsessed with it. Go figure.

***

“But SALT is only just the beginning of the gravy train this bill steers toward Democrats’ pet projects and causes.

“There’s also a tax-code tweak that would create a special deduction for union dues while letting one for charitable contributions expire.

“Another special incentive – to the tune of $10 billion – would help liberal colleges and universities indoctrinate students in new ‘environmental justice’ programs.

“Still others would pour $29 billion into funding a ‘National Green Bank’… $2.5 billion into increasing ‘tree equity’… $1.67 billion to bail out news outlets…and an extra billion on top for ‘improving climate resilience’ of Pacific salmon.

“And then, of course, there are the extra special ways Democrats want to use this bill to fulfill more personal, hometown priorities.

“Speaker Pelosi didn’t end up getting to earmark millions of federal dollars for redeveloping a park in her district.

“But she did secure one Congressman’s vote by upping the funding for a defunct regional commission that largely benefits his district by 13,000%.

“That’s old-school vote buying, Mr. President. A slap in the face to taxpayers.

“Our own colleague, the Democratic Leader, has pledged to ‘use all of [his] power’ to personally steer tens of billions of dollars toward a hometown New York City housing authority with a long and storied reputation of corruption, mismanagement, and scandal.

“It’s hard to wrap your head around, Mr. President. That is, unless you subscribe to Washington Democrats’ apparent core principle: when the American people are footing the bill, the menu is all-you-can-spend.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=6636AA03-D7B8-40DD-8B7D-709528296721,Bipartisan Defense Legislation Will Bolster Kentucky and the Country,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“Today, the Senate will pass this year’s National Defense Authorization Act by a big, bipartisan margin.

“I’ve talked for weeks about the importance of this legislation given the global threats and international challenges that face our nation — from China to Russia to the fight against terrorists in the Middle East.

“But I will also be proud to vote for this bill because of the enormous impact it will have on my home state.

“The proud servicemembers based in Kentucky play an outsized role in our national defense.

“From deploying across the world, to fighting COVID-19 here at home, they do amazing work to keep America safe. In the past week, they have stepped up to provide critical support as Kentucky deals with the aftermath of devastating tornadoes.

“Our Commonwealth’s heroes and their families deserve our full support and I am proud that this year’s National Defense Authorization Act delivers for them.

“Nearly $1 billion for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program that supports the chemical munitions destruction mission at the Blue Grass Army Depot. Robust funding to deter Russia in Europe, the mission of Fort Knox’s Fifth Corps Headquarters.

“Continued investments in research and modernization that will guarantee our soldiers, including those at Fort Campbell, are prepared to counter emerging threats like China.

“We’ve also built on our previous efforts to lift up Kentucky’s military families. The bill provides additional funding for modern, high-quality child care facilities, including $27 million for a new child care development center at Fort Knox. It authorizes an across-the-board 2.7% pay raise for our troops.

“This bill is critically important to the servicemembers who make immense sacrifices to keep our nation safe. I am proud to support it and help cement the Commonwealth’s role as America’s most military-friendly state.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=90E740AC-8DFC-4BDC-B1D8-64D6D4ABA7E9,"Amid Devastation and Grief, Kentuckians Lighting Beacons of Hope",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the tornadoes in Western Kentucky:

“In the aftermath of Western Kentucky’s devastating tornado outbreak, I’ve maintained close contact with state and local officials. My staff has been on the ground since the outset of this crisis, helping residents access federal resources and keeping me up-to-date with any developments.

“Toward the end of the week, I will travel back to Kentucky to meet with my constituents and visit the areas affected.

“The stories coming out of Kentucky are harrowing. But in recent days, we’ve also heard about the generosity, hard work, and hope that are helping our state recover.

“Kentuckians desperately need help to rebuild. So our universities, normally bitter rivals on the court, are rallying together to raise money and gather supplies for relief efforts.

“This Christmas is shaping up to be exceptionally difficult for children across Western Kentucky. So churches are organizing toy drives to help make the holidays a little bit brighter.

“Western Kentucky community organizations are stretched to the limit. So businesses based in the Commonwealth, from distilleries, to car manufacturers, to insurance companies, have stepped up to donate millions.

“Remarkable stories of survival and resiliency have trickled out of the disaster zone.

“Last weekend’s storm destroyed much of First Christian Church in Mayfield, Kentucky. But the congregation discovered their communion table and altar cross fully intact while picking through the rubble. A symbol of hope and rebirth survived amid so much pain.

“Across town, the Mayfield Health and Rehabilitation nursing home was physically devastated when it took a direct hit from the tornado on Friday night. But all seventy-four of the facility’s elderly residents survived with only minor injuries. As one staff member said, it was ‘truly a miracle.’

“And in Bremen, Kentucky, when a man visited the wreckage of his home on Saturday, he discovered his grand piano mostly undamaged despite the storm. Amid the surrounding devastation, he sat down to play and sing hymns. His songs, shared on social media, warmed the hearts of thousands.

“These stories of hope have ricocheted across the Commonwealth, bringing smiles and strength to the communities that need them most. And they give me faith that Kentucky will recover from this crisis, stronger than ever.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=4DC9A980-7CE3-4DCB-8E21-077A44AF0314,"McConnell Continues to Work with Local, Federal Agencies to Provide Kentucky Tornado Relief",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the tornadoes in Western Kentucky:

“Kentucky is working to recover from the deadly storms and tornadoes. Each day brings new challenges.

“Tens of thousands are still dealing with water, gas, or power outages. Families are in shock and grief over the loss of loved ones.

“Rebuilding the areas of Kentucky leveled by this storm will take months, if not years, to complete.

“Amid this pain, though, bright lights of hope shine through. In the face of tragedy, Kentuckians are still as strong and as generous as we’ve always been.

“Yesterday I spoke with the Taylor County Judge-Executive. He told me that seventy families in his county had lost their homes in the storm. Emergency responders made shelters available — but folks were quickly taken in by family, friends, or neighbors.

“That’s just the kind of people we have in Kentucky.

“In Mayfield, residents are already beginning to rebuild, only days after the storm leveled full city blocks.

“Churches hosted Sunday services this past weekend.

“Locals brought their chainsaws and cleared debris from city roads. People from nearby counties and states have flooded in to help.

“One man, Jimmy Finch, has struck a chord with Americans’ heart across the country. He had no connections to Mayfield. He’s from Clarksville, Tennessee. But after the disaster, he borrowed a big meat smoker, got into his car, made the hour-and-a-half journey in the dead of night, and started serving up food the next morning.

“On Sunday morning, for hours, he fed chicken, hot links, and burgers to hungry residents who had been without heat or power for days.

“Western Kentucky’s radio and TV stations have kept operating throughout this crisis delivering vital information even amid roving power outages. State parks opened their doors to residents who lost their homes. Businesses, individuals, and charities have been generous with food, water, and shelter.

“Kentucky’s first responders are working hand-in-hand with FEMA to provide coordinated relief. Doctors, nurses, firefighters, and law enforcement officers are working through the night.

“Utility workers are making a herculean effort to restore power and water. Hundreds of Kentucky National Guardsmen have deployed to Western Kentucky to assist.

“And at Fort Campbell, the federal government has provided a critical lifeline of support: sixty-one generators, 74,000 meals, 135,000 liters of water, thousands of cots and blankets.

“I’m in close contact with Governor Beshear, our federal agencies, and local leaders. My staff and I have been in frequent touch with the White House.

“Kentucky will come back from this bigger and better than ever before. I will make sure the Senate provides all the assistance we can to make that a reality.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=BFC3754C-5797-465F-A4EA-9CFE4E298C9E,Biden Administration’s Mistakes Raise the Stakes for 2021 Defense Bill,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“For months, while our colleagues have been writing their reckless taxing and spending spree behind closed doors, the Democratic majority let the National Defense Authorization Act sit in limbo.

“This week, four and a half months after it was cleared by the Armed Services Committee, the Senate should finally finish this legislation.

“Unfortunately, those who mean America harm haven’t been waiting around for us to act. Threats to our national security are grave and getting graver.

“Since the Biden Administration’s disastrous retreat from Afghanistan, according to our top commander in the region, the U.S. military has but a small fraction of the actionable intelligence they had before the coalition withdrew.

“But the predictable, avoidable resurgence of terrorist networks has continued apace.

“We also know that more Americans citizens and permanent residents remain stranded under Taliban rule than the Biden Administration admitted.

“Meanwhile, the threat of further Russian aggression toward Ukraine is testing whether this White House and our allies in Europe will avoid misguided half-measures to deter and defend against grave and growing threats.

“So, at the risk of stating the obvious: the United States needs to follow through with promises of urgent, substantive assistance to Ukraine and encourage other NATO allies to do the same. This should not be controversial. Only in the warped world of Kremlin propaganda is giving Ukraine the means to defend itself considered provocative.

“These real threats to national security, and others too numerous to name, should serve as a reminder of the need for America to lead by example and commit to modernizing our own military capabilities. Which in turn means taking the NDAA seriously.

“So I’m glad that the Senate is finally set to vote on this crucial legislation. While the process has been imperfect, I’m glad that bipartisan work has produced a bill that authorizes an increase in topline funding for our national defense.

“After months of delays, our colleagues have an opportunity to begin showing that America is serious about keeping pace with adversaries like Russia, who have spent decades modernizing their militaries with a singular focus on countering our military advantage.

“We have an opportunity to pay more than just lip service to competition with China.

“We have an opportunity to lay a foundation that we ought to follow through with robust and full-year defense appropriations.

“I encourage Senators to advance the legislation today.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=E2AF432A-7D8E-4C60-BAE7-4302DD0B02A1,The Worst Inflation in Four Decades,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Washington Democrats’ printing, borrowing, and spending addiction is directly hurting American families.

“Two thirds of the American people — a supermajority — are worried about inflation.

“About half the middle class and 70 percent of low-income families say soaring prices have personally hurt their household.

“And it isn’t getting better, like the Biden Administration promised it would. It’s getting worse.

“Last Friday, the Labor Department released a jaw-dropping report: The Consumer Price Index has shot up 6.8% over the past year. Six point eight percent inflation. The worst inflation in almost 40 years.

“Now, it’s true that the average American worker has gotten pay increase since 2020. But rising prices have more than wiped that out.

“We have a remarkable situation where American workers are earning raises, but their bigger paychecks buy their families even less than what their smaller paychecks bought before the Democrats took power.

“The net effect is a nearly 2% pay cut for the average American.

“Our citizens know what’s happening. 67% of the country says Washington needs to ‘cut back on spending and printing money.’

“But here in Washington, leading Democrats want to plow ahead and double down on the reckless taxing and spending that got us here.

“They want to respond to this stunning inflation report by printing, borrowing, and spending trillions upon trillions more on new entitlements and far-left programs.

“And if that weren’t bad enough, on Friday, a new report showed their socialist shopping spree could cost the country trillions more than Democrats admit.

“You see, as one of our Democratic colleagues explained last month, his party’s bill is packed full of ‘shell games’ and ‘budget gimmicks.’

“For example, their bill pretends that major new entitlements would simply expire after a few years.

“Of course, that never happens. As a wise man once said, ‘nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.’ And Democrats aren’t even pretending they think the spending would stop. They’re boasting about a permanent transformation.

“The fake expiration dates are just an accounting trick so the price tag looks artificially low.

“And last Friday, the Congressional Budget Office announced that if we acknowledge the permanent entitlements would be permanent, their bill would actually cost $4.9 trillion in the first decade alone.

“It would explode the deficit by $3 trillion in that time.

“Democrats are trying to reassure their alarmed members that they’d find new ways to offset future extensions.

“But think about it.

“They’ve just spent months shoving every possible pay-for into this existing bill. They already burned through huge, permanent tax hikes just to partially offset the bill with the gimmicks!

“Extending these programs further would either explode our national debt… or it would take even further trillions in even further gigantic tax hikes that Democrats will not specify.

“So which is it? Historic deficits or trillions more in secret tax hikes? The right answer for the country is neither.

“Later today, every Senate Democrat is going to vote on party lines to raise our nation’s debt limit by trillions of dollars.

“If they jam through another reckless taxing and spending spree, this massive debt increase will just be the beginning.

“More printing and borrowing. To set up more reckless spending. To cause more inflation. To hurt working families even more. The American people need a break.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=3EA711E4-1F01-4491-97E8-40E7721F73E4,McConnell on Devastating Kentucky Tornado Damage,2021-12-13,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the tornadoes in Western Kentucky:

“The tornadoes that hit Kentucky this past weekend were some of the most widespread, severe, and devastating in our state’s history.

“It is still difficult to comprehend the vast scope of this storm. Nearly forty tornadoes touched down across six states. One tornado in Kentucky stayed on the ground for over 200 miles. This was potentially the longest continuous path of any tornado in U.S. history.

“Towns have been reduced to rubble. Families are picking up pieces of their shattered lives. Most tragically, our Governor announced today that more than 60 Kentuckians are confirmed to have lost their lives. Many more remain unaccounted for.

“This is the worst storm to hit Kentucky in my lifetime. The tornadoes caused considerable damage in fifteen counties across the Commonwealth. Thousands lost their homes. Tens of thousands are still without power.

“This was, in the words of one meteorologist, ‘the worst-case scenario’ for destruction. And it came during the Christmas season. Families are supposed to be gathering soon for rest, relaxation, and reunion. Now so many Kentuckians are facing just the opposite.

***

“The whole country is becoming acquainted with Mayfield, Kentucky, likely our hardest-hit city.

“Mayfield is a town of ten thousand in the Jackson Purchase. It’s been known for the beautiful Greek-revival façade of the Mayfield First United Methodist Church.

“Now First United is completely gone and the town is leveled to the ground.

“Mayfield’s candle factory was operating in full swing this weekend to keep up with Christmas demand. It was once a mainstay of the community, employing hundreds.

“On Friday night, the factory was turned into a scene of absolute horror. Many of the employees who were working that evening are feared dead. Rescue operations are ongoing. At least forty employees were rescued initially. One was saved after being trapped under five feet of rubble for hours. The devastation there is absolute.

“The tornado was so powerful that it ripped twenty-seven train cars off their tracks in Earlington and scattered them across a field.

“A family photograph that was picked up by the storm in Dawson Springs, Kentucky was carried nearly 130 miles by the wind and discovered in Indiana.

“All across Western Kentucky, residents spent their Saturday and Sunday clearing debris and collecting clothes and possessions that had been scattered. Families were left to inspect the cinder blocks where their houses once stood. The cheery lights of Christmastime have been replaced by destruction.

***

“Kentucky has been devastated. But we have not been defeated.

“Kentuckians are resilient people. We will stay strong and unified through this crisis.

“I am incredibly grateful to the first responders who have been on the ground since the outset of this crisis: Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky State Police, sheriff’s departments, city and local law enforcement, EMS responders, firefighters, doctors, and nurses. Quick thinking and selfless actions saved lives.

“Hard-hit communities are receiving an outpouring of support from across the Commonwealth and the country.

“Americans near and far are coming together to donate food, blood, resources, and shelter to those in need.

“Businesses and individuals are helping fund relief efforts and donating to assist the storm’s victims.

“Like many of my fellow Kentuckians, I was incredibly touched by the support offered by the University of Kentucky basketball team this weekend.

“While visiting the University of Notre Dame, they led a deeply emotional moment of silence before their game on Saturday night. The team visited the school’s Grotto to light candles for storm victims and pray for recovery.

“We were all praying alongside them.

“Madam President, Kentucky’s state motto is ‘united we stand, divided we fall.’ In this time of crisis, Kentuckians are standing shoulder to shoulder. And we will not fall.

“At every level of local, state, and federal government, across both parties, Kentucky’s leaders have come together to coordinate and provide aid.

“Toward the end of the week, I will travel back to Kentucky to meet with my constituents and visit the areas affected by this storm. My team has been working non-stop to ensure Kentuckians receive the help they need.

“I have worked closely with President Biden and Governor Beshear to ensure every federal resource possible is deployed to our state.

“Kentucky’s congressional delegation has come together to send multiple letters to the President in support of disaster relief. In response, President Biden cut through red tape to approve our requests at an accelerated pace, providing the rapid support we need to recover.

“I am especially grateful for the work of DHS Secretary Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Criswell, who visited Kentucky yesterday to survey damage and help relief efforts.

“FEMA has already sent two incident management teams, an urban search and rescue team, and an Army Corp temporary power team.

“They have turned Kentucky’s Fort Campbell into a staging ground for vital relief and supplies.

“I could not be more thankful for their swift and decisive response to this crisis.

“Even in the face of such tragedy, we can be confident that Kentucky will bounce back.

“We are strong, and we are united.

“We will come back bigger and better than ever before.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=3F834F2B-7FEB-4298-88FB-8B8C7442AC61,McConnell Statement on Tornadoes and Severe Weather in Kentucky,2021-12-11,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding the overnight tornadoes and severe weather in Kentucky:

“I am praying for the lives lost and communities impacted by the tornado devastation throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you to the first responders and the National Guard for their brave efforts amid this tragedy. As I continue to get reports from my staff, local and state officials, we will work with the entire Kentucky federal delegation to support Governor Andy Beshear's request for federal assistance in order to aid these hard-hit communities with the funding and resources they need to rebuild.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=8AE017AF-B7E7-4CD1-9979-604736DBD1E9,Kentucky Congressional Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Disaster Declaration,2021-12-11,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kentucky's federal delegation, including U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul, and Representatives Hal Rogers (KY-05), John Yarmuth (KY-03), Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Andy Barr (KY-06), Thomas Massie (KY-04), and James Comer (KY-01) sent a joint letter today to President Joe Biden expressing their support for Governor Andy Beshear's request for a disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky regarding the overnight tornadoes and severe weather.

“We write to draw your attention to the December 11, 2021 letter from Governor Andy Beshear requesting a disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky due to the severe weather events…We strongly support this request and ask for your timely consideration,” the delegation stated in their letter to the President. “Unfortunately, at least 50 deaths have been reported across multiple counties in the Commonwealth as a result of these tornadoes. The Kentucky National Guard and Kentucky State Police have been mobilized to provide support to Kentuckians, but emergency response has also been hampered by the storm damage.”

Initial reports indicate that this was the longest tornado touchdown in the Commonwealth’s history. The tornadoes have caused significant destruction of property, dangerous road conditions, significant vegetative debris, power outages for thousands of Kentuckians, and severe impacts to transportation and infrastructure.

A federal disaster declaration would release funding and resources to aid Kentucky communities hardest-hit by the tornadoes and severe weather.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-releases-statement-devastating-kentucky-storms-sends-letter-president-biden/,"Dr. Rand Paul Releases Statement on Devastating Kentucky Storms, Sends Letter to President Biden Requesting Assistance",2021-12-11,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 11, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul (R-KY) released the following statement following devastating storms and tornadoes across Kentucky:

“Our hearts are broken for all those suffering from last night’s horrific storms. As daylight comes and we begin to fully understand the severity of the devastation, we mourn and we pray,” said Dr. Paul. “I and my team will do all we can to assist our local and state officials as they lead the immediate response, and we will aggressively help families, businesses, and officials access the federal recovery resources.”

Dr. Paul also immediately sent a letter to President Biden requesting expeditious approval of the Governor’s requests for federal assistance. The letter is attached HERE, and you will find text of it below:

Dear President Biden,

Last night and early this morning devastating storms swept across multiple states, including Kentucky. A single tornado from that system may have been on the ground for over 200 miles, and a large swath of the Commonwealth has been severely hit. As the sun comes up this morning we will begin to understand the true scope of the devastation, but we already know of loss of life and severe property damage.

The Governor of the Commonwealth has requested federal assistance this morning, and certainly further requests will be coming as the situation is assessed. I fully support those requests and ask that you move expeditiously to approve the appropriate resources for our state.

Sincerely,

Rand Paul, M.D.

United States Senator

If you are a Kentuckian and need assistance with lost or damaged documents such as Social Security cards, VA records, military medals and records, and tax paperwork, please contact our office by going to paul.senate.gov and by calling our Bowling Green office at (270) 782-8303.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=550C23F3-D04E-4622-A0BF-D58D12C1473B,McConnell: Inflation Is Out of Control on the Democrats’ Watch,2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding updated inflation numbers released this morning:

“This morning’s numbers confirm what every American family already knows: Inflation is out of control on the Democrats’ watch.

“6.8% inflation is the worst in almost 40 years. The costs of essentials have skyrocketed. Wages have not even come close to keeping pace, so the average American has gotten a pay cut. It is exactly what experts warned Democrats’ reckless spending would cause.

“Now Washington Democrats are a broken record that’s gotten stuck on the worst possible response: More borrowing, more printing, more reckless spending. Trillions upon trillions more. They want to double down and attempt to inflate their way out of inflation.

“The American people cannot take another reckless taxing and spending spree that hurts their families and helps China. It is unthinkable that Senate Democrats would try to respond to this inflation report by ramming through another massive socialist spending package in a matter of days.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=A42339C3-817E-4396-8CE0-027EDC5E1B66,"$4.9 Trillion: Without Budget Gimmicks, Cost of Democrats’ Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree Skyrockets",2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding the recent CBO report:

“As a Democratic Senator explained last month, the reckless taxing and spending spree is full of ‘shell games’ and ‘budget gimmicks’ meant to mask the pain it would cause our country.

“Democrats want permanent new entitlements. To create a fake lower price tag, their bill pretends much of the spending would stop in a few years. To be clear, Democrats do not claim this would actually happen.

“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office just announced that if you ignore this fake accounting and admit the spending would continue, Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree would actually cost a staggering $4.9 trillion in the first decade alone. It would balloon deficits by $3 trillion in just 10 years.

“This red ink tsunami would be irresponsible at any time. During the worst inflation in almost 40 years, it would be insane.

“The same Democrats who falsely promised this bill would cost $0 now say they would offset future extensions, so nobody should worry. It’s comical. Either this plan would explode our debt or Democrats intend to raise taxes by trillions and trillions more than they’re admitting, beyond the massive tax hikes in the bill.

“It was clear yesterday and it’s even clearer today: Washington Democrats must not force through their gigantic, reckless taxing and spending spree.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=033307FC-C707-4D24-9954-B5DA5ABF6571,Senator McConnell Statement on President Bendapudi,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding President Neeli Bendapudi’s tenure at the University of Louisville:

“When President Neeli Bendapudi personally informed me of her decision to leave the University of Louisville, I was excited for her but saddened to hear the news. I remember meeting her in 2018 when she was named the 18th president of the university. I knew right away that she was the best person for the job - a premier academic and administrator with a passion for higher education. When she arrived, the university faced struggles in both its academic and athletic departments. She made it her top priority to turn these struggling programs around and make the school competitive once again.

“I was greatly impressed by the energy, enthusiasm, and strong vision she had for UofL and enjoyed watching her become an expert in raising the “L.” Dr. Bendapudi deserves much credit for her many accomplishments during her tenure at UofL, and I want to thank her for her impressive leadership and work on behalf of the university and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I also appreciate her strong support of the McConnell Center scholarship program, as well as the McConnell Chao Archives.

“I’m sure her decision to leave was a tough one, and I know that UofL will always have a special place in her heart. I join the university’s students, faculty, staff and fans – along with all my fellow proud Cardinal alums - in wishing her well. Elaine and I will greatly miss seeing her during our frequent visits to campus.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=1D0E79AB-C734-4F5A-9AB4-8657C8089EB0,"Democrats’ Toddler Takeover Cuts Choices, Raises Costs, & “Insults the Diversity of American Families”",2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“On Tuesday, I shined a spotlight on Washington Democrats’ proposed ‘toddler takeover.’

“They want to spend hundreds of billions of dollars in order to upend families’ arrangements… create massive inflation in daycare costs… and attack faith-based providers.

“Democrats say their plan would not hurt faith-based providers because it wouldn’t explicitly block them upfront.

“But that’s only a small part of the story.

“The reckless taxing and spending spree might not ban faith-based providers on day one. But their scheme of mandates and subsidies would slowly and quietly push them out.

“Democrats’ bill would deny religious providers an extra funding stream for upgrading their facilities which their secular competitors would get.

“And their proposal would let woke bureaucrats persecute faith-based groups unless they leave their values at the door.

“If a Jewish daycare wants to prioritize Jewish families, they could get thrown out of the Democrats’ scheme for discrimination!

“A Catholic facility could be kicked out if families who are registered parishioners get first dibs!

“If a faith-based provider decides not to hire somebody who fundamentally rejects their teachings, left-wing bureaucrats and lawyers could come after them. The woke mob that stalks cake-bakers and florists is now coming for church daycare.

“Twenty-one organizations representing hundreds of thousands of faith-based daycares and preschools signed an open letter to the Senate. Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and Muslims all wrote this to Chairwoman Murray and Senator Burr.

“‘The Build Back Better Act will suppress, if not exclude, the participation of many faith-based providers…’

“‘[P]rovisions in the bill text make it virtually impossible for many religious providers to participate.’

***

“Now, the far left says that if you don’t support this toddler takeover, you’re out of touch.

“But they’re projecting. It’s their Big Government scheme that is out of touch with the diverse aspirations of different families.

“Last year, a nonpartisan survey asked families what childcare arrangements they’d ideally like.

“Apart from the pandemic, if finances were no obstacle, what would American parents want?

“The share who said center-based childcare was 27%. This is the only route that Democrats want to subsidize. Just 27% of parents say it’s their ideal world. And of that 27%, a majority prefer the faith-based options that Democrats would push out.

“A larger group, nearly 40%, said their ideal arrangement would involve full-time parenting in some form. Either one parent stays home, or the two trade off.

“Another 9% said they’d ideally like an extended relative like a grandparent to be the caregiver.

“Other families would ideally want a nanny-share or neighborhood co-op.

“The Democrats’ daycare scheme would give all these people nothing.

“A family that has sacrificed so that a mom or dad can stay home will not get one penny for books or supplies or to make up for lost wages.

“A grandparent who leaves a part-time job to spend weekdays with their grandkids will not get a dime from the Democrats’ plan.

“A neighborhood nanny-share gets zero help.

“Forget about diversity. Forget about choice and fairness. Families would either enroll in the specific pathway that Big Labor and Big Government like best or they’d get nothing.

“Meanwhile, even in the centers that Democrats do want to subsidize, parents would get a very mixed bag.

“Analysts agree the new regulations would send costs skyrocketing. The District of Columbia’s local government estimates these sorts of policies would increase the cost of childcare by roughly $12,000 per child per year.

“Their plan would supposedly use government subsidies to make up for this new inflation, but that assistance would be confusing and uneven.

“So this bill manages to be wildly inflationary and wildly unfair at the same time.

“It insults the diversity of American families and their aspirations.

“It simply hands money and power to the same woke bureaucrats who are letting far-left propaganda into K-12 schools and then sending the Department of Justice after parents who speak up.

“This bill would give HHS Secretary Becerra, a hard-core culture warrior, a giant slush fund to start shaping the care of babies and toddlers.

“And facilities and families who make different choices would be left facing a massively inflated market with zero help.

“This would be an awful proposal for American families even if it were free. But it isn’t.

“Washington Democrats don’t just have to explain to parents why they want to make childcare more expensive, more inflexible, and more unfair.

“They also get to explain why they want to print and borrow hundreds of billions of dollars to do it.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=87B7072F-BB8B-4DF8-90E2-44ED10EFF2EE,McConnell Delivers Rotunda Tribute to Senator Bob Dole,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today paying tribute to Senator Bob Dole:

“On April 14, 1969, Senator Bob Dole delivered his first floor speech.

“He said, ‘the task ahead is monumental.’

“And this was before Bob knew he’d end up leading a conference of 53 Senators!

“Years later, after he had become Leader, Bob described his Senate management challenges with his trademark wit.

“‘If I’d known,’ he said, ‘we were going to win control of the Senate… we’d have run better candidates!’

“I swear, Bob could have made it as a stand-up comic.

“But in that maiden speech, Bob was earnest.

“He was already championing a signature cause: helping Americans with disabilities.

“‘The task ahead is monumental,’ he said, ‘but I am confident that there are forces in America ready and willing to meet the challenge.’

“Bob Dole himself was certainly proof of that.

***

“That maiden speech came 24 years to the day after he sustained his combat wounds in Italy.

“Bob had already risen to a monumental task. He’d taken the fight to the Nazis. And he’d nearly paid for it with his life.

“Through all his decades in public service, Bob Dole knew exactly where he came from.

“A son of Dustbowl hardship — who was laser-focused on food security and rural issues.

“A wounded warrior — who spent decades carrying fellow veterans and Americans with disabilities on his shoulders.

“Bob was the last of the Greatest Generation to run for president. But he was never stuck in the past.

“His roots ran deep… but he was always looking to new horizons.

“From that first speech… through his years in leadership…

“Through Bob’s incredibly active retirement-in-name-only…

“He built brighter futures for millions.

***

“Bob was blessed with long life to watch this legacy take effect.

“But that was no accident!

“Bob liked to joke that he planned for longevity by closely studying our most senior colleagues.

“He had a whole comedy routine about how he’d tried to copy Strom Thurmond’s eating habits:

“If Strom takes a shrimp, I take a shrimp. If he eats a banana, I eat a banana!”

***

“But the real engine behind Bob’s 98 remarkable years was his love.

“His love for Elizabeth and for Robin; for public service; for Kansas and for America.

“Today we honor the amazing life that love created.

“And we thank God, the source of all love…

“Both for Bob’s incredible journey here in this life…

“…and for the fact that he has entered his eternal reward in the next.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-republicans-musnt-enable-bidens-overspending-waiving-paygo/,Dr. Rand Paul: Republicans musn’t enable Biden’s overspending by waiving PAYGO,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 9, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an op-ed for the Washington Examiner today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul made clear his opposition to raising the debt limit and waiving PAYGO.

“For months, Republicans gave President Joe Biden’s social spending bill the accurate label: “the Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree.” Republicans, in unison, opposed the $2 trillion spending spree Democrats passed this spring. But now, Republican leadership is pushing a bill to forgive all that spending,” stated Dr. Paul in the piece. “According to the law that governs Congress’s budget process, this spending has to be offset by equal cuts from somewhere else. The law is called PAYGO. But Republican leadership and Democrats are going to waive PAYGO, allowing Biden’s spending spree to become debt instead of being offset by spending cuts.”

You can read Dr. Paul’s entire op-ed HERE or below.

***

Republicans musn’t enable Biden’s overspending by waiving PAYGO

By: Dr. Rand Paul

December 9, 2021

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/republicans-musnt-enable-bidens-overspending-by-waiving-paygo

There’s a palpable chill in the air in Washington this week, and I’m not talking about the weather.

I’m talking about the icy forecast of our country’s fiscal stability and the possibility that Republicans could be complicit in creating such treacherous conditions.

For months, Republicans gave President Joe Biden’s social spending bill the accurate label: “the Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree.” Republicans, in unison, opposed the $2 trillion spending spree Democrats passed this spring. But now, Republican leadership is pushing a bill to forgive all that spending.

According to the law that governs Congress’s budget process, this spending has to be offset by equal cuts from somewhere else. The law is called PAYGO. But Republican leadership and Democrats are going to waive PAYGO, allowing Biden’s spending spree to become debt instead of being offset by spending cuts.

This monstrosity of a bill also allows the debt ceiling to go up with a simple majority vote. Republican leadership, which ostensibly guards the filibuster, is allowing this bill to neuter the filibuster with respect to the debt ceiling. The bill sets a precedent that the debt ceiling can be raised without requiring a supermajority — a big concession.

Voters should be appalled that Republican leadership is basically giving Democrats their Christmas wish list on a silver platter. This horrible “deal” they concocted gives Democrats an easy path to raise the debt ceiling using expedited procedures and would enable even more reckless spending.

The current debt limit is $28.9 trillion. That’s essentially the limit on America’s credit card. What happens when you don’t pay the balance of your credit card bill? You pay interest charges. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office now projects that interest costs on our debt will be $5.4 trillion over 10 years, and the projected deficit for this year is $1.1 trillion.

We cannot afford to raise the debt limit without meaningful spending reform. Continued reckless spending is dangerous to the health of our country and our national security. Simply put, the bill provides reckless spenders with a blank check and sends the country further down a dangerous path that threatens a future of confiscatory tax rates, low employment prospects, and high inflation.

I hate to say it, but I told you so.

In March, I tried to force Congress to follow the rules it had set for itself and pay for new COVID spending by enforcing PAYGO rules. Speaking from the Senate floor, I noted that “big spenders like to say the federal government is different than a family budget and that we have the Federal Reserve who can print up money to buy our debt. But all that does is cause inflation.”

And what do you know, just as I predicted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that inflation hit 6.2% — the highest level in a generation.

Ready for the worst part of all this? If the Biden administration’s Build Back Better spending bill passes this year, it won’t be subject to the mandatory PAYGO cuts. Republicans would literally be facilitating Biden and the Democrats’ priorities.

I’ve often said that both Republicans and Democrats are at fault for the spending crisis in Washington, and this case is no different. Republicans ought to stop assisting the Democrats in playing their reckless game of kick-the-can-down-the-road and resist this bizarre attempt to facilitate their agenda.

I have tried to warn of the dire forecast for our nation if we continue with this fiscal insanity. And while I may not be a meteorologist, I can see when a storm is brewing. Congress ought to join me in keeping an eye on the horizon and act before it’s too late.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=202EF3FA-1EE2-494D-A62A-219C6465C950,President Biden’s Illegal Vaccine Mandate is “Blatant Overreach”,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the vaccine mandate:

“For the last two years, as the country has battled COVID-19, I have been a strong and constant advocate of following the science and taking precautions.

“That’s included strong support for the safe and effective vaccines that have helped millions of Americans substantially lower their risk of death or serious illness.

“I took advantage of these modern medical miracles as soon as I could. I’ve received a booster. I’ve encouraged Kentuckians and all Americans to take full advantage as well. I have recorded public service announcements.

“I’m a survivor of childhood polio. I’ve watched vaccines obliterate polio in our entire country in my lifetime. Trust me, there is no bigger proponent of vaccination.

“But here’s the thing, Mr. President. The United States of America is a free country. The federal government, elites in Washington, cannot micromanage citizens’ personal choices without a legitimate basis in the law and the Constitution. And that goes double for Presidents going far beyond the bounds of their office and their authority.

“President Biden’s absurd private-sector vaccine mandate is blatant overreach. It is illegal. The Administration has already lost in federal court and had it blocked.

“Washington Democrats have lashed themselves to a mast that is very simple: Unvaccinated people should be fired. That’s what they want. They don’t trust individuals, families, doctors, employers, and customers to sort things out for themselves. They want every worker at a medium-sized business and up to either get this shot or get fired by President Biden. And buried in the illegal mandate is a call to explore whether it should expand to all businesses.

“This is not how things work in America. Period.

“Workers are not happy. Medium-sized businesses are not happy, especially not in the middle of this worker shortage.

“And frankly nobody who understands our system of government is happy.

“I’ve heard from so many Kentuckians who are affected by the Administration’s suite of several unwise vaccine mandates.

“Quote: ‘My wife… was notified that if she doesn’t get fully vaccinated by January 4th then she would be terminated and lose her job without severance or unemployment… she has been [there] for 17 years and has nothing but exemplary reviews.’

“Quote: ‘I will lose my job at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. I very much enjoyed my work there and had every intention of retiring from the plant. However, due to Joe Biden’s forced vaccine mandate I will be terminated … Please let a man who wants to work, go to work.’

“Quote: ‘My firm [of] 103 employees will [either] lose about 25 to the mandate, or lay off 4 to get to 99. Which one should we do?’

“Remember, Mr. President, personally, I’d encourage each of these Kentuckians to get the vaccine. But for the purposes of this conversation that isn’t the point.

“You better believe I am going to stand up and fight for their freedom.

“I want to thank the junior Senator for Indiana for spearheading this resolution to overturn the Biden Administration’s illegal mandate. I am proud to cosponsor it, I’ll proudly vote for it, and I urge every Senator to do the same.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=27BDC8E8-B112-4D7C-B884-35B5D7F2487D,Democrats Promote Soft-on-Crime Prosecutors as Murders Surge,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding crime rates:

“The national murder rate just recorded its biggest jump in more than a century. In some cities, homicides have set all-time records.

“From Albuquerque to Milwaukee to Memphis to Des Moines, city officials reported more murders last year than in any prior year.

“In my hometown of Louisville, homicides this year have now broken last year’s all-time record.

“All last year, liberal politicians and activists made absurd and false claims about law enforcement. ‘We need to completely dismantle’ local police. ‘Policing in our country is inherently and intentionally racist.’

“A left-wing messaging campaign has spent a year and a half trying to chill law enforcement and policing. A network of liberal district attorneys around the country are matching that rhetoric with incredibly soft-on-crime practices behind the scenes. And the predictable result of all this has been a collapse in public safety.

“Last month, a man killed six people and injured dozens more at a Christmas market in Wisconsin, just weeks after he was released on bail for another set of violent charges.

“This criminal had already been arrested and locked up in neighboring Milwaukee County, but he was let out by a liberal D.A. who remarked several years ago that, ‘Is there going to be an individual I divert, or I put into treatment program, who’s going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. Guaranteed. It’s guaranteed to happen. It does not invalidate the overall approach.’

“There’s now a whole bunch of grieving families in Waukesha who have strong feelings about that ‘approach.’

“Here’s a headline from New York City, just this week. ‘Man busted for assault set free, allegedly beats two random NYC women – then cut loose again.’

“Smash-and-grabs, flash mob thefts, and carjackings are increasingly facts of life in multiple major cities.

“But against this backdrop, Democrats just want to keep getting weaker on crime and softer on public safety.

“We expect to vote today on the nomination of Rachel Rollins to be a U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.

“Ms. Rollins has spent years in her current job as a D.A. pushing the idea that the state should wipe entire categories of crimes off the list of things worth prosecuting. She’d rather her office not go after trespassers, shoplifters, or even those found possessing drugs with the intent to distribute.

“This soft-on-crime advocacy should have earned the nominee a pink slip. Instead, President Biden’s giving her a promotion.

“I urge Senators to vote no.

“Law-abiding Americans don’t want prosecutors who refuse to prosecute.

“They don’t want city jails equipped with revolving doors. They need leaders who defend the rule of law.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=B8A1924B-5D64-4DBF-B34A-E4BF5427CCC2,Washington Democrats Will Own Their Debt Explosion,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“For Washington Democrats, 2021 will have one major theme: Ramming through inflationary spending on a partisan basis that hurts American families and helps China.

“That’s how this all-Democrat government began the year, jamming through a wasteful excuse for a stimulus bill that drove up prices and made supply chain problems even worse. Not a single Republican supported it. And Democrats now want to end the year with another massive spree that would be even worse.

“The whole country understands that Democrats own this mess. They have seized one-party control of the economy, so you better believe they’ll have one-party accountability for the resulting nightmare.

“The President and his allies are badly upside down in overall approval ratings, upside down on the generic ballot, upside down on the economy. And the more the men and women of this country learn about the reckless taxing and spending spree that Democrats are planning next, the less they want it or anything like it.

“Democrats have wanted to transform the country alone. They want to print and borrow trillion after trillion on their own. They want to create even more inflation on their own. So, as Republicans have made clear for months, they will have to own a debt ceiling increase as well.

“This week, the House and the Senate have reached a bipartisan agreement to make that happen. As the Democratic Leader said yesterday that Democrats are, ‘willing to carry the burden.’ And so they will.

“We have reached an agreement on a one-time, one-shot, statutory process that will enable Democrats to raise the debt limit at a fixed dollar amount which they will specify.

“Much like the vote on an arms sale resolution that occurred yesterday and the Congressional Review Act vote that will occur today, this will be a standard expedited process, at a simple majority threshold, established by law.

“Democrats will get one shot at this. They won’t be able to add any other amendments. And every single Senate Democrat will have to put their name to the gigantic dollar amount of debt they’re prepared to pile on the American people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=B5AB9A6F-0F4E-42B5-AAE0-D58BB20AF009,Democrats’ Toddler Takeover: Huge Childcare Inflation and Discrimination Against Religion,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“The last time Washington Democrats pushed through a huge change that disrupted families’ arrangements, it earned President Obama the ‘Lie of the Year’ award.

“Democrats insisted that if you liked your healthcare plan, you could keep your healthcare plan. It turned out that was totally false. Their reckless government takeover threw many families into chaos.

“This year, many of the same Democrats want to write a sequel. They want to ram though a radical, reckless, multi-trillion-dollar taxing and spending spree between now and Christmas. And a huge part of their bill would completely upend childcare and pre-K as they exist for families across America.

“If you like your childcare, you can keep your childcare! Buckle up, parents. What could go wrong?

“The Democrats have written their toddler takeover in ways that would turn families’ finances upside-down and make already-expensive childcare even costlier.

“Let’s walk through it.

“First, their reckless taxing and spending spree would make childcare dramatically more expensive through an avalanche of new mandates, regulations, and micromanagement. The usual Washington D.C. routine.

“State and local governments are panicking about the childcare inflation this would cause. Here in D.C., as one liberal analyst uncovered, local officials have formally estimated that the per-child daycare cost for a toddler or an infant would jump by about $12,000 per year.

“Twelve thousand dollars more per child per year! President Biden’s inflation is coming for daycare.

“That’s why the other half of their clumsy scheme is to dump subsidies onto some families. They want to borrow and print even more so they can throw money at the thing they will have just made more expensive!

“But here’s where a bad idea turns into a terrible one.

“The Democrats wouldn’t help families directly. This isn’t some simple voucher that families can use as they please.

“My colleagues have produced an insanely tangled scheme where the truckloads of money go from Washington… to state governments… to the childcare centers. One leaky bucket after another.

“The problems run even deeper than that. Democrats want states to sign up for badly underfunded mandates. That’s the effect, because the entitlement programs will surely last forever, but for accounting purposes, Democrats are pretending the money stops after a decade. Many states will not be keen to be socialist guinea pigs.

“Then there’s the fact that the assistance is doled out in incredibly confusing and uneven ways. The subsidies start and stop with no rhyme or reason.

“Listen to what a left-leaning organization, the People’s Policy Project, has uncovered. They’ve found that in Year One, a family that earns one dollar over their state median income, ‘will be eligible for zero subsidies, meaning they will be on the hook for the entire unsubsidized price,’ which they estimate will now cost ‘at least $13,000 per year higher than before.’

“The researcher repeats himself because it’s so unbelievable.

“‘Having a family income just $1 higher than [your state’s median income] would result in you being ineligible for child care subsidies in 2022 even as the unsubsidized price of child care skyrockets due to the wage and other mandates in the Democratic proposal. This is obviously a perverse outcome and it’s not clear whether lawmakers even realize what they are about to do.’

“This isn’t just one technical glitch. It is emblematic of how ill-conceived their whole experiment is. There are 10 problems like this on every page.

***

“I should add, Mr. President, the families who even get to participate in the mess I’ve just laid out – they’re actually the lucky ones. Because Democrats want Big Government to pick winners and losers among different families who make different choices.

“Many American families make one set of sacrifices so that both parents can work full-time. These are the people the Democrats are trying to reward, although their plan fails in practice.

“But Americans are allowed to have different aspirations. Some families make different sacrifices to have a parent at home full-time. Others prefer flexible middle grounds that involve part-time work plus in-home childcare.

“The Democrats’ toddler takeover wouldn’t give any of them a dime. No diversity. No flexibility. Institutional daycare or nothing.

“In fact, it’s worse than nothing. Because a family who wants a provider to come to their house part-time, or wants to participate in a neighborhood nanny-share, will now be stuck in an inflated market. They’ll have to bid against the employers that Democrats have blessed and subsidized.

“This is the essence of what the Democratic plan would do. Big Government and Big Labor work together to reward some family arrangements and punish others.

“Our all-Democrat government is already botching the things that actually are government’s job. Projecting strength abroad. Maintaining energy independence.

“But they can’t even do that right. Just look at the poll numbers.

“The last thing families need are for Democrats to appoint themselves national daycare czars and then botch that, too.

***

“I haven’t even touched on one of the most sinister parts of this whole proposal.

“For parents who do use childcare outside the home, faith-based options are incredibly popular. The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates that 53% of parents who use center-based care use ones that are linked to a faith-based organization.

“But the same Democrats who are letting far-left propaganda trickle down from the universities into K-12 schools are now declaring war on faith-based childcare.

“Washington Democrats want to unleash the woke mob on church daycare. There are at least two parts of their bill that are direct attacks.

“First, liberals are trying to chase faith-based providers out of the childcare industry by denying funds to any facility they deem discriminatory.

“Of course, today’s radical left tosses around those kinds of accusations at any remotely traditional institution.

“Faith-based childcare centers could potentially get their subsidies ripped away if they don’t hire who secular bureaucrats want them to hire, set up their facilities the way secular bureaucrats want them set up, or even — listen to this — gave preference to kids of their own faith!

“Orthodox Jewish daycare centers could get kicked out if they say Orthodox Jewish families get first dibs. Evangelical centers could get punished by bureaucrats if the families who belong to the church are accommodated first.

“It’s a joke. The left is trying to weaponize the word ‘discrimination’ to push faith-based childcare out of business.

“Another part of their bill goes out of its way to deny money for facilities upgrades to buildings that are used for ‘sectarian instruction or religious worship.’ If a faith-based center leads kids in prayer or teaches them their families’ faiths, they don’t get the funding that everyone else gets.

“We see this act over and over from the culture warriors. They pretend they’re happy to have religious groups in the public square… but only if they check all their beliefs at the door.

“A few years ago, the Supreme Court had to strike down a similar policy that penalized faith-based organizations. A state had tried to deny a church a widely-available grant to fix up its playground. The Court struck down the law 7 to 2.

“But the political left is right back at it.

“Just look at which federal bureaucrat would oversee this giant mess.

“It’s none other than Secretary Becerra, the hard-left culture warrior who got famous by suing the Little Sisters of the Poor for being too Catholic and suing crisis pregnancy centers for being pro-life.

“This is the person whom Democrats want to give sweeping new powers over families’ private choices.

“Secretary Becerra gets a giant slush fund to bring President Biden’s inflation into childcare and discriminate against people of faith.

“Just one more way Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree would hurt working families.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-puts-senate-record-arms-sale-saudi-arabia/,Dr. Rand Paul Puts Senate on Record on Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 7, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member Rand Paul (R-KY) urged the Senate to support his bipartisan joint resolution of disapproval to block proposed U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Dr. Paul was joined by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Mike Lee (R-UT) in introducing the resolution last month. Dr. Paul gave remarks on the floor before the Senate proceeded to vote on a motion to discharge the resolution from the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“A message needs to be sent to Saudi Arabia that we don’t approve of their war with Yemen,” said Dr. Paul. “By participating in this sale, we would not only be rewarding reprehensible behavior, but also exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Congress and the Biden Administration should consider the possible consequences of this sale that could accelerate an arms race in the Middle East and jeopardize the security of our military technologies.”

You can watch Dr. Paul’s floor remarks HERE, and learn more about Dr. Paul’s efforts in his op-ed published in The American Conservative HERE.

Background:

On November 4, 2021, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $650 million. The AIM-120C is predominately used defensively to strike drones from the air; although, they could conceivably be used in an offensive strike on other aircraft. The proposed sale comes in light of the Saudi-led fuel blockade of Yemen, which has prevented the free flow of food and water in the country. Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced an end to “offensive” support in the war in Yemen. However, Saudi Arabia has continued its blockade in Yemen, which has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the country.

The joint resolution of disapproval is cosponsored by Senators Sanders (D-VT), Lee (R-UT), Leahy (D-VT), Wyden (D-OR), Warren (D-MA), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), and Murray (D-WA).

You can read the joint resolution HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-we-can-end-saudi-blockade-and-bring-relief-long-suffering-yemeni-people/,Dr. Rand Paul: “We can end the Saudi blockade and bring relief to the long-suffering Yemeni people”,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 7, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) penned an op-ed published in the American Conservative on his joint resolution of disapproval to block proposed U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The joint resolution will be voted on in the Senate today.

You can read Dr. Paul’s full op-ed HERE or below, and learn more about his joint resolution HERE.

Saudi Arabia’s air and naval blockade of Yemen is an abomination. For years now, ships that would otherwise carry food, fuel, and medicine are turned away by the Saudi-led coalition, depriving the Yemeni people of the necessities to sustain civilization. Saudi Arabia’s intervention in the Yemeni civil war is a chilling example of the cruelty of warfare by starvation. According to the United Nations, five million people are one step away from succumbing to famine and disease, and ten million more are right behind them. But, this week, the Senate can start the process of ending this crisis by passing my legislation to cancel an American arms sale to Saudi Arabia that aids and abets the subjugation of the Yemeni people.

The children of Yemen who survive Saudi Arabia’s barbaric blockade will inevitably tell their sons and daughters of the horrors of their youth. And those sons and daughters will tell their sons and daughters. Through oral tradition, a thousand generations of Yemenis will know of the Crown Prince’s ruthlessness. And they will also know that it was the Americans that sold him the weapons to wage his murderous campaign.

The reports from Yemen describe a nightmare. The Washington Post reported of a three-year-old boy, who could not walk or speak, described his face as “skeletal” and arms and legs as “thin as twigs.” He weighed ten pounds, and his father said that he sometimes goes two days without eating because Saudi import restrictions have made food prohibitively expensive, as if mere sustenance was a luxury. The New York Times told the story of a mother who, after three days of failing to find a ride, carried her 8-month-old son while walking two hours to reach medics to treat acute malnutrition. Even after a week of treatment with enriched formula, the boy still lay motionless on his hospital bed.

Tens of thousands of children have already died from disease, malnutrition, or starvation. International aid agencies, who also have to fight the Saudi blockade to provide humanitarian assistance, put it succinctly: “the people of Yemen are not starving. They are being starved.”

The Saudi siege of Yemen is made possible because of American weaponry. The arsenal provided by the United States includes billions of dollars’ worth of military aircraft and thousands of air-to-ground munitions. Only weeks ago, the Biden Administration approved a new $650 million sale of 280 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles and 596 missile launchers to the Saudis. As painful as it is to admit, the United States is an accessory Saudi savagery.

President Biden says the latest sale is merely to help defend Saudi territorial integrity, but the commander in chief’s words do not match Saudi actions. According to William Hartung, the Director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy, “the air blockade is enforced by a threat to shoot down any aircraft, military or civilian, that enters Yemeni air space with the goal of landing at Sana’a airport. The provision of air-to-air missiles gives further credibility to this threat, dissuading any government or aid group from bringing in crucial medicines or flying patients in and out of Yemen.” In other words, no weapon is exclusively defensive and continued American arm sales means continued death and starvation in Yemen.

I am leading a bipartisan effort to end America’s complicity in Saudi Arabia’s war on the Yemeni people. This week, I will force a vote on a bipartisan disapproval resolution that proposes to cancel the arms sale. To overcome an almost certain veto, this effort will require the support of two-thirds of both chambers of Congress. If Members of Congress believe in humanitarianism, if they believe America is a force for good that serves as a model for other nations to emulate, if they believe that the crushing of the Yemeni people must be stopped, then they must vote for the resolution of disapproval.

We have a chance to tell the Crown Prince that American arms sales will end until he gives up his starvation campaign. We can end the Saudi blockade and bring relief to the long-suffering Yemeni people. Should we fail to seize this opportunity, history will never let us forget that America, the last best hope for humanity, failed to protect defenseless civilians from the cruelty of a criminal regime.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=5C38B7E9-E8E9-4A93-A78F-FCED60DC8FE8,McConnell Denounces Sham Trial and Sham Sentence for Aung San Suu Kyi,2021-12-06,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement this morning regarding the sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi:

“I strongly condemn the sham trial and the sham sentence that Burma’s illegitimate, unelected military junta has imposed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Daw Suu Kyi’s so-called ‘trial’ was a farce. The proceedings had zero transparency. Her lawyers were silenced. This is not about COVID regulations, walkie talkies, or any of the other absurd pretexts. The junta simply wanted to keep the last leader the Burmese people elected for themselves off the streets, so they disregarded the rule of law and did so. This is the same shameless tyranny with which the junta imprisoned countless citizens of Burma, two American journalists, Nathan Maung and Danny Fenster, and is still holding the Australian economist Sean Turnell behind bars.

“The junta is flailing because they are frightened by what they see. Burma’s ethnic minorities, so often divided by their differences, have been coming together and standing behind the National Unity Government’s opposition to illegitimate military rule — even despite the regime’s escalating repression and violence against the people.

“Now more than ever, the United States and friends of democracy worldwide must continue to pressure the junta. As Congress works our way through the National Defense Authorization Act, I have added a bipartisan amendment that will ensure our Administration articulates and then advances a real strategy to hold the regime accountable and support democratic actors like the National Unity Government.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=704A5087-C3A3-4CF4-BBAF-8A5F3B8BE2F5,President Biden Must Get Tough in Tuesday Call with Putin,2021-12-06,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding foreign policy:

“Last week brought new information about Russia’s military activities along its border with Ukraine. Heavily armed ground forces are mobilizing by the tens of thousands. It’s looking more and more like Vladimir Putin intends to redraw another border by force.

“The escalation of Putin’s ongoing war against Ukraine is an immediate threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty and to the security of its people. But as always with Putin, it’s also a test with much broader consequences. Can aggressive powers violate sovereign countries without facing serious consequence?

“Fellow authoritarians in Beijing and Tehran will be watching how the free world responds. And President Biden has an opportunity to set the tone when he speaks with Putin tomorrow.

“The stakes for the President’s call with Putin couldn’t be clearer. We know what happens when the United States fails to engage with Russia from a position of strength. We know what weakness and capitulation get us.

“Remember how President Obama treated arms controls and Europe-based missile defense as negotiable items that could be traded away in exchange for Moscow’s goodwill.

“Remember how he mocked Republicans – perhaps most notably our colleague, Senator Romney – who dared to suggest that we ought to take the threat of a revanchist Russia seriously.

“Remember the cuts to defense spending.

“Remember the dithering over whether to provide meaningful capabilities to Ukraine when Putin first invaded… And how useless our blankets and MREs were against Russian armor and Moscow-trained little green men.

“This weakness didn’t purchase a ‘Reset’. It produced a more emboldened Russia, willing to engage in more repression at home and more aggression abroad.

“And here we are today.

“Vladimir Putin is gearing up to escalate his violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. And if the free world doesn’t object, there’s no reason to assume he’ll stop there.

“So tomorrow, President Biden has both the opportunity and responsibility to tell Russia, and Ukraine, and our allies in Europe that the United States cares about sovereign borders and will help its friends protect them.

“If the free world is serious, its leaders – first and foremost, the President of the United States – will leave Putin no room to doubt that Ukraine’s sovereignty is inviolable. And by extension, they will signal to Chairman Xi that similar prospecting in the Pacific will come with prohibitive costs.

“If our leaders do not defend a fundamental tenet of the international order, we cannot be surprised by the chaos that will follow.

“So if President Biden is serious, he will convince Germany’s new government to abandon the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and instead try to reduce its dependence on the resources that enrich Putin and his cronies and give Moscow leverage over Europe.

“If the President intends to learn from the past and actually help Ukraine defend itself, he should expeditiously provide weapon systems that will materially help Ukraine defend itself, including against air threats.

“Finally, for the United States to lead the world’s response to authoritarian aggression, I hope President Biden will call on our allies to do more to contribute to our collective security.

“In Europe, NATO member states must treat their own military modernization as a top priority. And in the Indo-Pacific, our friends in Taiwan and elsewhere must commit the resources, training, and reforms needed to help them face down their own looming threats.

“Tomorrow’s call must mark a turning point for the Biden Administration’s approach to major power competition — from one where its words are pinned on hopes to one where its words and backed by strength.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=88B5C40A-16FB-4B38-9AAC-5FCF30E4FCB4,McConnell Remarks Honoring Sen. Bob Dole,2021-12-06,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the passing of former Senator Bob Dole:

“It is hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Senator Robert J. Dole took leave of the Senate. It’s even harder to believe he passed away this past weekend.

“Not because it comes as a shock to say goodbye to an elder statesman at age 98… but because our colleague was still so energetic, so involved, and so forward-looking, right through to his final months.

“If you didn’t know Bob Dole, if you just read a summary — of his impressive Senate career, his leadership tenure, his presidential campaign — he might sound like a man of contrasts.

“On one hand, our friend from Kansas preached conservative values: personal responsibility and fiscal discipline. But this son of the Dust Bowl and wounded warrior was also laser-focused on caring for the most vulnerable, notching landmark wins on subjects from food insecurity to veterans’ issues to the rights of disabled Americans.

“On one hand, Senator Dole took pride in our Republican Party. He rose to key roles that were necessarily somewhat partisan, first leading our Senate Republican Conference for many years and then leading a presidential ticket. But he was also a consensus-finding legislator, an honest broker with deep friendships and working relationships that spanned the aisle.

“On one hand, our colleague was earnest, unironic, and somewhat serious — a true Greatest Generation Midwesterner. But he also wielded a charming, disarming, and self-deprecating sense of humor, whether he was cracking one-liners, often at his own expense, or doing a joint appearance with his comic impersonator.

“Allow me just one example of Bob Dole’s comedic talent.

“In January of 1997, just after President Clinton had defeated Bob and won his re-election, the President graciously bestowed on Bob the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“There they were, in mid-January, just three days before the day Bob had spent months hoping he’d be inaugurated, but President Clinton would be re-inaugurated instead. It was a gracious gesture and a warm event all around.

“The time comes for Bob’s remarks. He walks to the podium. Looks around. And he begins:

“‘I, Robert J. Dole…’ The crowd is already cracking up.

“‘Do solemnly swear…’ Then a theatrical pause.

“‘Oh, sorry – wrong speech!’

“Once the laughs began to die down, there came the self-deprecating punchline: ‘I thought I’d be here this historic week receiving something from the President. But I thought it’d be the front door key!’

***

“The thing is, Madam President, there was no contradiction in any of it. No paradox. Bob’s life and career were very consistent.

“The virtues and the values that led Bob Dole to raise his right hand, enlist in the Army, and fight bravely until he could not raise that hand any longer… were the same virtues and values that compelled him to raise his left hand for a different oath in the Kansas State Capitol a few years later.

“And then across the Rotunda in the U.S. House. And then here in the Senate.

“The same virtues and values that animated Bob’s passionate, pointed speeches in the 1960s about a citizen’s duty animated his great empathy towards those who needed help.

“With Bob Dole, what you saw was what you got. And from his comrades in the 10th Mountain Division… to his constituents in Kansas… to the whole Senate and the entire country… what we got was extraordinary.

“I cannot summarize in one speech the full life or legacy of our friend Bob. There are the battlefield heroics… the hospital-bed friendship with fellow future Senators Phil Hart and ‘the best bridge player at Percy Jones Hospital,’ Dan Inouye… There’s the policy legacy that endures to this day.

“These remembrances will take Congress this whole week. And they’ll occupy historians for decades to come.

***

“Bob Dole had the same chief hero for his entire adult life: His fellow son of Kansas, a General and then a President, Dwight Eisenhower.

“Bob didn’t just like Ike, he idolized him. In Senator Dole’s Senate farewell speech in 1996, he saved the second-to-last quotation for his hero from Abilene, Kansas. He kept his foot personally on the gas pedal for the Eisenhower Memorial here in Washington well into his nineties. He invoked and praised Ike constantly throughout his career.

“One such occasion was in late 1979. An event was held at Eisenhower’s boyhood home, presidential library, and gravesite in Abilene, on what would have been his 89th birthday. It so happened that only a couple weeks later, Mrs. Eisenhower would pass away and be laid to rest there as well.

“On that day, Senator Dole explained that America had gotten ‘lucky.’

“Why? Because — quote — ‘when we were thirsty for leadership, we turned to a man from Kansas, a genuine hero who embodied in his own life the finest qualities of the American people…’

“‘…A man from grassroots America, steeped in the traditions of neighborhood and patriotism and service… A strong man who earned his strength in war, yet never forgot the disease of poverty or the scourge of personal suffering.’

“Bob was always eloquent, and those lines of his certainly did describe Ike. But now that our friend’s 98 amazing years have come to a close, we can say with certainty that Eisenhower isn’t the only Kansan who meets those standards.

“Not only General Eisenhower, but also Second Lieutenant Robert J. Dole himself, was a genuine hero from Kansas… who helped satisfy a nation’s thirst for leadership…

“Who was steeped in homespun American values and proud of it… Who’d fought with great courage and valor on the battlefield… And whose concern for the most vulnerable in our society came right with him into the halls of power.

***

“I mentioned that Eisenhower was Bob’s second-to-last quotation in his farewell remarks to the Senate. I want to close today where he closed 25 years ago.

“Musing on both his past and his future, our colleague’s final quote was from the Midwestern poet Carl Sandburg: ‘Yesterday is a wind gone down, a sun dropped in the West. I tell you that there is nothing in the world, only an ocean for tomorrows, a sky of tomorrow.’

“Now, for our remarkable friend, the sun of this world has set at last.

“But we pray in faith that he now beholds an even brighter light. That the endless ocean of tomorrows now stretches before him.

“The entire Senate sends our prayers to Elizabeth and Robin, and to so many family, friends, and former staff of Senator Dole.

“The whole country stands with you — not only in grief, but in gladness and thanksgiving, for almost a century that was lived so patriotically, so gratefully, and so well.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=D9C7A716-ED12-4879-B850-2DB0787FCF01,Senator Bob Dole,2021-12-05,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of former Senator Bob Dole:

“Elaine and I join the nation in mourning Bob Dole, our good friend and a bona fide American hero.

“Bob’s lifetime of service was rooted in a simple mission: looking out for his neighbors. At first that meant serving his customers at a soda fountain in Russell, Kansas. Then it meant heroic, decorated service with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division in World War II; brutal fighting from which Bob barely made it home. And then came a remarkable career in public service, capped off by nearly 30 years in the U.S. Senate and more than a decade as Republican Leader.

“Senate Republicans and the entire Senate were better off for Bob’s stewardship. But more importantly, his beloved Kansas and the entire nation reaped huge rewards from his service. Bob was a steady leader and a legislative master. He unlocked both conservative victories and big bipartisan achievements. His Dust Bowl roots fueled a special commitment to vulnerable Americans, and sure enough, Bob’s work on food security, veterans’ issues, and the rights of disabled Americans have continued to have an especially lasting impact.

“Whatever their politics, anyone who saw Bob Dole in action had to admire his character and his profound patriotism. Those of us who were lucky to know Bob well ourselves admired him even more. A bright light of patriotic good cheer burned all the way from Bob’s teenage combat heroics through his whole career in Washington through the years since. It still shone brightly, undimmed, to his last days.

“Bob Dole lived the kind of full, rich, and deeply honorable American life that will be impossible for any tribute today to fully capture. As we mourn this most distinguished American son, we send our sincerest condolences to Elizabeth, Robin, and the entire Dole family.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-honors-imogenes-alterations-bowling-green-kentucky-us-senate-small-business-week/,"Dr. Rand Paul Honors Imogene’s Alterations of Bowling Green, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week",2021-12-03,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 3, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Imogene’s Alterations of Bowling Green, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Imogene’s Alterations of Bowling Green, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Located on Nutwood Street, Imogene’s Alterations has served Bowling Green, Kentucky for over 20 years. Imogene Garmon, a longtime Bowling Green resident, embarked on her first career in the grocery sector. After 33 years working at the Kroger meat counter, she was ready for a new challenge. A self-taught seamstress, Imogene began selling fabric and doing minor alterations after leaving Kroger. Seeing a business opportunity, Imogene went on to establish a fabric shop. She thrived as a small business owner, serving the greater Bowling Green community. Word spread quickly of Imogene’s talent as a seamstress. Request for alterations poured in, including everything from everyday clothing to suits and ball gowns. To meet the demand, Imogene decided to focus solely on alterations. She established Imogene’s Alterations, providing full-time alterations for men and women’s clothing.

Today, Imogene’s Alterations continues providing alterations for all types of events and special occasions. This woman-owned business has grown along with the area, moving into its current location at Nutwood Street about twenty years ago. Customers are welcomed by name, and treated like family. At 88 years old, Imogene continues to be involved in every aspect of her business. From operating the store to sewing alterations, her care and attention to detail are evident in her work. Her strong sense of family has built a tight-knit, supportive team.

Like many entrepreneurs, Imogene established a successful business while building community. As a mother, grandmother, and aunt, Imogene raised and continues to mentor generations of her family. Remarkably, Imogene founded Imogene’s Alterations in her 60s. It took innovation and courage to pursue her goal, switching from the grocery industry which she knew well, to the tailoring sector.

Imogene’s Alterations is a remarkable example of the resilience and adaptability of locally-owned small businesses. Small businesses like Imogene’s Alterations form the heart of cities and towns across Kentucky. Congratulations to Imogene and the entire team at Imogene’s Alterations. I wish them the best of luck, and I look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=A07ADC59-3BDD-483C-9E40-B7813CAF528A,Democrats’ Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree Stuffed With Absurd Waste and Political Payoffs,2021-12-02,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Two thirds of Americans are worried about inflation.

“About half of the middle class and 70 percent of low-income families just told Gallup that rising prices have been a personal hardship for their households.

“That’s why 67% of the American people say that Washington needs to ‘cut back on spending and printing money.’

“But here in Washington D.C., Democrats are bound and determined to do just the opposite. They want to try the crazy strategy of inflating their way out of inflation. Another massive, reckless taxing and spending spree.

“Even the most generous estimates, when the CBO has to swallow all of Democrats’ accounting gimmicks at face value, still say their proposal would entail $800 billion in new deficit spending over the next five years alone.

“Outside experts who are allowed to reject Democrats’ obvious budget gimmicks find the real cost of their bill would actually be close to $5 trillion dollars, and after a decade, it would increase deficits by $2.8 trillion dollars.

“But the reckless price tag isn’t the only problem. What is remarkable is that the Democrats want to spend all these trillions but not leave citizens with any impressive, enduring new national project in return.

“There’s no Hoover Dam, Interstate Highway System, or moon landing on the other side of their mountains of borrowed money. Nothing like that.

“Just a giant catalog of socialist mediocrity — new entitlements here, new transfer programs there, new ways to let bureaucrats run families’ lives, and shameless goodies for specific interest groups who support the political left.

“A giant muddled mess that would leave families with fewer childcare choices and higher costs… with fewer new prescription drugs and cures… with higher prices for less reliable energy…

“A reckless taxing and spending spree that hurts American families and helps China.

***

“There are a lot of big, sweeping, radical changes in their proposal that would change families’ lives dramatically and for the worse.

“But in between the sweeping wish-fulfillment for people who call themselves ‘democratic socialists,’ there is also a remarkable amount of pure waste, absurd little giveaways, and interest group goodies.

“A billion here, a billion there, and hope the American people won’t notice if it’s buried in enough bureaucratic gibberish.

“Here are just a few examples.

“This bill would supply billions of dollars to help colleges and universities indoctrinate college students with even more left-wing propaganda…

“… And billions more to give them made-up Potemkin jobs in a make-work program they’re calling a ‘Civilian Climate Corps.’ This at a time when industries already cannot find workers.

“Their bill would set aside multiple billions of dollars to put federal government employees like IRS agents and postal carriers into brand-new electric vehicles.

“Earlier this year, the Biden Administration made sure that luxury Teslas with a sticker price of up to $97,000 were on the list for government procurement.

“So working families might be having to choose between heating costs and new shoes for the kids, but don’t worry, Democrats will make sure IRS auditors can cruise around in Silicon Valley’s finest.

“Their proposal would create a huge $29 billion slush fund that activists are applauding as the foundation for something called ‘a national green bank.’ Can you say Solyndra on steroids?

“An entire government bank to finance pipe dreams that can’t earn support in the real economy.

“Separately, they’re planning to spend multiple billions of taxpayer dollars for something the liberals are calling ‘tree equity.’ I’ll let that one speak for itself.

“Of course, Madam President, the Green New Deal folks aren’t the only constituency Democrats want to pay off.

“This reckless taxing and spending spree is also designed to knock out all their Christmas shopping for trial lawyers, Big Labor bosses, Ivy League administrators, and blue-state millionaires, all in one fell swoop!

“There’s the state-and-local tax carveout, the SALT gimmick, that would give an extra tax cut to two thirds of the households making a million dollars or more a year.

“Perhaps to make sure these reckless policies get good press, Democrats have included a $1.6 billion bailout for the news media. I’m not making this up. We are essentially talking about government welfare for newsrooms.

“It goes on and on.

“There’s a new special tax break for rich universities’ massive endowments…

“Hundreds of millions of dollars to overhaul kids’ school lunch menus, including making sure they are, ‘culturally appropriate.’ I guess they want to make sure that children’s cafeteria trays are sufficiently woke.

“And goodness knows they couldn’t skip over Big Labor. So the Democrats’ plan would let working Americans’ above-the-line tax deduction for charitable contributions expire — that goes away — but they’d replace it with a brand-new deduction that only applies to union dues.

“And then there is pure pork of the old-school kind.

“The Speaker of the House tried to sneak in hundreds of millions of dollars for a special park in San Francisco.

“And the Senate Democratic Leader has spent months trying to double the bill’s funding for public housing so the chronically mismanaged authority in his hometown could get $40 billion federal dollars to clean up its messes.

“There is even what appears to be a $33 million kickback that is largely for one Democratic congressman whose vote Speaker Pelosi had to lock down. Out of nowhere, one mostly dormant government commission that is important to this Democrat’s district gets a funding increase of 13,000%.

“You heard that right: A funding increase of thirteen thousand percent. What a terrific coincidence for this one Democratic House member.

“So take a step back. Our colleagues’ proposal isn’t some big national leap into the 21st century. It is an endless hodge-podge of this nonsense.

“Partisan back-scratching, interest group giveaways, and shameless waste.

“And through tax hikes and inflation, working American families will foot the bill.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=97AAA4A6-AC5F-4332-BEFA-2F35B07D1A29,Democrats’ Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree Would Worsen Families’ Existing Problems,2021-12-01,2021,2021-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Inflation is hammering working families from coast to coast, but Democrats want to print, borrow, and spend trillions more.

“Our economy is already sputtering on their watch, but Democrats want to wallop the country with massive tax hikes that would kill American jobs and discourage industry from locating in the U.S.A.

“Everybody with a lick of common sense knows the massive, reckless taxing and spending spree that Democrats are writing behind closed doors is crazy.

“A supermajority of Americans, 67%, say that ‘inflation and rising costs’ are ‘harm[ing] everyone in the country’ and ‘government should cut back on spending and printing money’ as a result.

“Two in three Americans want Washington Democrats to step back from the precipice. An overwhelming consensus. But a few loud voices on the far left are yelling at Democrats to ignore the people… and take the plunge.

“The sheer financial cost of what Democrats want to do to our country is jaw-dropping.

“Even when the Congressional Budget Office had to swallow all the Democrats’ budget gimmicks and fuzzy math at face value, they still found that their reckless taxing and spending spree would add $800 billion to the deficit in the next five years. Another $800 billion in deficit spending during a time of inflation.

“But even that almost certainly undershoots it.

“The Democrats’ legislation pretends that liberals will let all these huge new entitlements expire after a few years. It’s a total accounting fiction. They are marketing these new welfare programs as moral imperatives. Democrats don’t want them to expire. But they draft bills with these fake expiration dates to make it appear like it costs less.

“Outside experts have tried to estimate the real cost of the bill, if all these new welfare entitlements didn’t magically fall away after a few years. They say the bill would actually cost double what Democrats say and leave us with $2.8 trillion in new debt.

“Let me repeat that. Nonpartisan experts who look past the Democrats’ fictional accounting and fake assumptions find this bill would add $2.8 trillion to the deficit.

“That’s how you risk turning a couple years of inflation into a full-on lost decade.

***

“But the problem with their reckless taxing and spending spree is not just the price tag.

“It is not the case that Democrats have cooked up a great list of investments that would strengthen America, but we just can’t afford it at this particular moment.

“No, our colleagues want to ram through a far-left wish list that would hurt families and help China.

“There’s no grand national project waiting on the other side of all these trillions. No 21st century version of the Hoover Dam or the Interstate Highway System or the Space Race. Nothing to really make us proud.

“Just a mediocre assortment of new welfare programs, new transfers, and new bureaucratic power grabs.

“And somehow it all seems tailor-made to take existing problems in our country and make them worse. Take, for example, the nationwide labor shortage facing our economy right now:

“One of the most vocal of the House’s self-styled democratic socialists said last year that, even after workplaces were once again safe, people should simply refuse to go back to work.

“Forget science, forget economic recovery, ‘just say ‘no’.’

“Well, this spring, the far left got their wish: a massive, unnecessary spending package that stunted our comeback and literally paid people to stay on the sidelines. By summertime, unfilled positions were setting new all-time highs.

“And yet Washington Democrats now want to double down with a plan that would shatter a decades-old consensus about the link between welfare and work.

“They want to massively expand access to welfare – including to people in this country illegally – by hijacking the child tax credit that was designed for working families with actual tax liabilities.

“Or look at the ongoing obsession with Green New Deal policies.

“President Biden’s cave to the far left’s climate agenda started on Day One: Cancelling American jobs and the Keystone XL pipeline and freezing exploration on new sources of domestic energy.

“Last year, the United States was a net energy exporter. Now, on Democrats’ watch, we’ve doubled our imports of Russian oil. And American households are staring down an historic spike in home heating costs.

“Was it time to pump the brakes on green radicalism? Not if you ask Washington Democrats. Their reckless taxing and spending spree would heap a fresh batch of fees and mandates on producers of the most affordable domestic energy while showering incentives on the pricey and unreliable alternatives blue-state liberals prefer.

“Pouring government subsidies into ‘green’ pet projects like electric cars and solar panels would mean handing a massive windfall to Chinese producers that dominate the markets for a slew of the rare earth materials these products require. Hurts families; helps China.

“Look at education. The same Democrats who let their Big Labor benefactors rob kids of in-person schooling are now letting the Biden Justice Department scrutinize parents who dare to question woke propaganda.

“Their reckless taxing and spending spree would go even further to take power and control away from parents. Democrats want to bring even more of kids’ learning, down to pre-K, under the thumb of woke bureaucrats and Big Labor.

“And even prior to pre-K, Democrats have cooked up a crazy new labyrinth of regulations and subsidies and mandates for daycare. President Biden and Speaker Pelosi want to tell the American people how to raise their kids and how to structure their private family arrangements.

“These liberals want to take families’ most personal life decisions and have Washington pick winners and losers.

“The cost of childcare would actually be driven up.

“Families who’ve made different sets of sacrifices to have a parent or grandparent raise their young kids would get nothing.

“Many Americans’ faith-based providers would be intentionally shut out from important funding. And the culture-warrior Secretary Becerra would call the shots.

“It’s like I said, Mr. President: The actual substance of their bill is as awful as the price tag.

“Democrats’ plan wouldn’t just waste trillions and exacerbate inflation. It would also make American families lives’ considerably worse.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=1B6523EC-AC26-4541-B8ED-1381BD6516DB,Another Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree Would Pour “Jet Fuel” on Inflation,2021-11-30,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“88 percent of Americans are concerned about inflation. Most of them are ‘very concerned.’

“77 percent of Americans say inflation has affected them personally.

“We have a big and diverse country. It’s hard to get that many Americans to agree on anything.

“But President Biden did promise he would unite the country. And on Democrats’ watch, under Democrats’ policies, the American people are united in their fear and frustration at runaway prices, falling purchasing power, and all the consequences of inflation.

“The men and women of this country are spending 20% more than last year for beef at the grocery store. 50% more to fill up at the gas station. 26% more for far less choice in used cars.

“One recent article in the New York Times suggested that perhaps Americans should forget about trying to buy their family members normal gifts and settle for exchanging hand-written promises to tackle household chores such as ‘washing out the reusable plastic bags.’ I guess the Grinch is doing some ghostwriting in his spare time.

“Some weeks back, the White House press secretary tried to laugh off reporters’ questions about the supply chain and inflation crises. She laughed at the idea that anybody would be worried about, ‘the tragedy of the treadmill that’s delayed.’

“The president’s staff are yukking it up. But working parents aren’t laughing. Middle-class families aren’t laughing.

“A Kentuckian named Mike Halligan isn’t laughing either. He runs a big food bank in Lexington called God’s Pantry. They distribute more than 40 million pounds of food every year to local food pantries across Kentucky.

“He says: ‘We’ve seen the cost of our ‘sharing Thanksgiving basket’ go up this year by 14.5 percent… We’ve seen our costs go up by about 50 percent. The transportation component of that is literally doubled.’

“And he also explained that since inflation is also hammering his contributors, charities and nonprofits may face ‘donor fatigue’ at precisely the time they cannot afford a fall-off. The Democrats’ inflation is hitting every part of our society.

***

“A famous economist once said that inflation is the only form of tax that can be levied without any legislation. But what’s remarkable about 2021 is that Democrats did directly legislate a big chunk of this inflation into existence!

“It is unusually traceable to deliberate policy decisions they have made.

“One of the most famous Democratic economists in the country, Larry Summers, tried to warn them.

“On February 4th he wrote the Democrats’ stimulus could, ‘set off inflationary pressures of a kind we have not seen in a generation.’ He said the same thing all springtime long.

“So did President Obama’s CEA chair. Quote: ‘Jason Furman…said that the American Rescue Plan is definitely ‘too big for the moment,’ stating: ‘I don’t know of any economist that was recommending something the size of what was done.’’

“But Washington Democrats had already decided months ago they’d try to use the temporary pandemic as a Trojan horse for permanent socialism.

“Remember last spring, when one of the seniormost House Democrats called it, ‘a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.’ Or earlier this fall, when President Biden, himself, said the pandemic, ‘does present us with an opportunity.’

“For Democrats, this go-around, it has never been about what families need. It has only been about what activists want.

“So we got the first massive spending bill in the springtime. And now, a majority of Americans ‘worry they won’t be able to afford what they need during the holidays due to inflation.’

“President Biden inherited an economy that was primed and ready for an historic comeback. A fantastic inheritance. Since then they’ve had less than a year at the controls. And we’ve got more than half the country actively worried their checking accounts might not even get them through the holidays.

***

“But Democrats aren’t offering the country any contrition, any apology, or any course-correction.

“Amazingly enough, they want to come back around for an even bigger bite at the apple. They want to try to inflate their way out of inflation.

“Our colleagues have spent months huddled behind closed doors, neglecting the most basic governing duties, writing another reckless taxing and spending spree that even the most conservative estimates say would add about $800 billion to deficits over the next five years alone.

“They want to take the inflationary fire they helped start and pour jet fuel on it. Even the CBO, which has to swallow most of Democrats’ gimmicky math, estimates this bill would spend nearly $2 trillion dollars and pile hundreds of billions more onto deficits over the next decade.

“Perhaps more realistic are the outside, nonpartisan estimates that actually account for what we all know: Democrats would never let the new entitlements in their bill expire. These more realistic estimates put the total cost just shy of $5 trillion dollars.

“All at a time when Chairman Powell, who has been willing to let the economy run hot, is now warning that current uncertainties could keep inflation elevated to a troubling level.

“Now, I could talk all day about how the actual contents of this bill would hurt American families even more.

“About how it would take another big step toward socialized medicine and pour cold water on the innovations and cures that save lives…

“How it would incinerate huge chunks of our energy sector, and the jobs it supports, in order to keep pace with the green preferences of California liberals…

“How it would wrestle authority over intimate decisions about childcare away from American families and put it in the hands of Washington bureaucrats.

“But the overall picture is impossible to mistake:

“Inflation is hurting the American people and Democrats want to print, borrow, and spend trillions more.

“The most out-of-touch agenda you could possibly imagine.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=9EBC440B-00A0-44C5-95C4-10124EFC340A,McConnell: Critical Defense Legislation Deserves a Bipartisan Amendment Process,2021-11-30,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“Yesterday, a bipartisan majority of Senators rejected the Democratic Leader’s effort to shut down debate on the National Defense Authorization Act and block new measures to get tougher on Russia.

“The Democratic Leader wants to block the Senate from fully and robustly debating a number of important issues — from how to manage the fallout from the reckless Afghanistan retreat to how to respond to China’s dramatic and destabilizing military modernization to how to restore deterrence against an emboldened Iran.

“The NDAA is supposed to be the bipartisan forum for debating and acting on these kinds of issues. Months ago, the Armed Services Committee moved this process forward 23-3. But the Democratic Leader has botched the floor process.

“It is especially bizarre to see the Democratic Leader so focused, so intent, on blocking the Senate from dealing seriously with the growing aggression from Putin’s Russia. He seems downright desperate to block new bipartisan action on Nord Stream 2. It’s strange to see.

“Senators Risch and Cruz have proposed language concerning this Putin pipeline that the House was able to pass almost unanimously. Unlike the House provision, the Risch/Cruz amendment includes a waiver provision that would give the President more flexibility, which makes the Democratic Leader’s effort to shut the process down and block their amendment all the more baffling.

“If there is opposition to this amendment – if it can be improved with modifications – then by all means, let’s have a public debate.

“Likewise, Senator Portman has been a leading voice for bolstering our European partners and delivering more meaningful support to Ukraine’s military.

“As Putin masses forces on Ukraine’s border, the Senate should debate how to help the Ukrainians defend themselves. The Democratic Leader is trying to shut that down too.

“The NDAA is not finished yet. So the Senate cannot be finished yet either.

“We need the same kind of normal, robust, bipartisan amendment process that always characterizes this bill. And we need the Democratic Leader to stop trying to block the Senate from sanctioning Putin’s cronies.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=49DAA3E0-A3A9-434D-A631-40EFADFDAB44,"While Families Plead for Less Inflation, Democrats Want to Print and Spend Trillions More",2021-11-29,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Why do our Democratic colleagues want to shortchange our national defense? To free up their time and attention for another massive, reckless taxing and spending spree. A radical wish list that would hurt American families and help China.

“Working families are already getting slammed by runaway costs because Democrats’ last massive spending spree drove up inflation. Gas prices are up almost 50%, used car prices are up more than 25%, and grocery prices across practically every category are up significantly over this time last year.

“But in response, Washington Democrats want to print, borrow, and spend trillions more. Even if you accept all their budget gimmicks at face value, this bill alone would unleash $800 billion in not-paid-for spending in the next five years.

“Years five through ten are when their crushing tax hikes and phony accounting would kick in. But even then, the bill is not paid for. President Biden promised Americans over and over that this legislation would cost zero dollars.

“But that’s false.

“The Congressional Budget Office says that after 10 years, after their tax hikes and fake offsets are factored in, their spree would still add $367 billion to the deficit.

“President Biden said the deficit impact would be zero. In reality, it is hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars.

“President Biden promised Americans something else, too: He said he would never raise taxes on the middle class. People earning less than $400,000 per year were not to pay a penny more.

“He has completely broken this promise as well. Among the $1.5 trillion in job-killing tax increases are new burdens for small businesses, family farms, and direct hikes on middle-class families earning less than six figures.

“Meanwhile, amazingly, Democrats did find room in their plan to include $300 billion in tax cuts for the wealthiest blue-state zip codes in New York and California. Our colleagues want to pretend they’re launching another New Deal, yet one of the biggest components is a direct cash giveaway to their richest constituents.

“So the cost of this spending spree would be astronomical. And the massive tax hikes that would only partly pay for it would crush our fragile economy.

“But what about the content of this liberal wish list?

“If Democrats get to steal the American people’s credit card for this historic spending spree, what would our citizens even get to unwrap?

“There’d be massive government giveaways to supposedly ‘green’ initiatives, giving rise to a whole new generation of waste and abuse like Solyndra.

“There’d be a gigantic slush fund so that HHS Secretary Becerra, the culture warrior who sued Catholic nuns, could take over daycare and pre-kindergarten across America. He’d be in charge of subsidizing certain kinds of private family choices but not others, and tilting the playing field against faith-based childcare.

“There’d be a continuation of inflationary welfare payments that Washington is sending out with zero work requirements whatsoever. And illegal immigrants would get the money too.

“Oh, and as we speak, Senate Democrats are still trying desperately behind the scenes to get sweeping amnesty included in this bill as well.

“It goes on and on like this, Madam President. A hodge-podge catalog that is built to satisfy the demands of activists, not the needs of families.

“If you ask any working-class or middle-class American family for their top concerns, you aren’t going to hear many people pining for massive tax hikes, electric car charging stations, and woke bureaucrats getting control of their kids’ early childhoods.

“My colleagues across the aisle seem determined to spend the weeks ahead on ways to waste Americans’ money while making Americans’ problems even worse.

“Let’s hope enough of our Democratic colleagues step back, take stock, do the responsible thing… and kill this bill.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=FCC893AF-D422-498F-A01F-3B75BE4BEC20,Senate Democrats Should Not Shortchange National Security,2021-11-29,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“Today’s Democratic Party does not make the policy decisions of a party that is serious about protecting America.

“In May, President Biden released a budget proposal that proposed a de facto cut in defense funding. And that was before the President’s own supercharged inflation further cut the purchasing power of every defense dollar.

“In August, his botched Afghanistan retreat shattered our allies’ trust and delighted terrorists.

“In 10 months in office, despite naïve happy talk from the Administration, the threats we face are markedly worse.

“The vacuum they left in Afghanistan has emboldened terrorists, from Iran’s militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen to the highest ranks of the Taliban’s government.

“Their desperation to return to a failed nuclear deal has given Iran the upper hand in negotiations.

“For four years, my colleague the Democratic Leader seemed constantly focused on Putin and Russia.

“But now? With Putin flaunting his power and Russia engaged in ongoing cyber-attacks, weapons tests, and troop build-ups? Crickets.

“And for all their talk about China’s threat, we’ve seen no evidence that Democrats intend for the United States to keep pace with the PLA’s investments in nuclear and hypersonic weapons.

“The bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission has made clear we cannot shortchange our own military modernization and have a prayer of competing with the People’s Republic of China or even the declining but dangerous Russian Republic.

“Our colleagues across the aisle have missed one opportunity after another to right the ship. They’ve used the reconciliation process to pass trillions in new partisan spending without a cent for defending the nation.

“And despite the strong bipartisan work of our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, the Democratic Leader kept this year’s defense authorization bill in limbo for months, and now wants to block the Senate from a real debate and a real amendment process.

“Madam President -- debating the right way to confront Russian threats to America and our allies and equip our friends in Ukraine is worth the Senate’s time.

“Putin is massing tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s border, but the Democratic Leader is trying to block a debate about responding to Russian aggression? It makes no sense.

“Considering sanctions on the pipeline that fuels Putin’s encroachment over Europe – including provisions from Senator Risch that closely mirror language the House added unanimously – is worth the Senate’s time.

“Setting the record straight on our resolve to maintain a strong and credible nuclear deterrent that can check the worst impulses of our adversaries is worth the Senate’s time.

“Yet once again, the Democratic Leader seems to want to put national security last. My colleague is trying to overcorrect for poor planning by cramming a two-week bill into two or three days’ time. I imagine there might be finger-pointing at Republicans if that proves impossible.

“Madam President, nothing less than the safety of the American people is at stake. This is more important than political timetables for partisan wish-lists.

“So if the Democratic Leader insists on forcing a cloture vote later today, I will oppose cutting off these important debates prematurely, when they have really just begun.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-paul-stands-kentucky-farmers-and-cattlemen-opposition-biden-administrations-new-and/,Dr. Paul Stands with Kentucky Farmers and Cattlemen in Opposition to the Biden Administration’s New and Expansive WOTUS Rule,2021-11-29,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 29, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) released the following statement on the Biden administration’s new and expansive waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that was quietly issued just over a week ago.

“Kentucky’s farmers and agricultural industry suffered when the Obama administration implemented its burdensome WOTUS rule, and now the Biden administration has chosen to follow in their footsteps by appeasing the far left’s priorities over the economic well-being of farmers across America. Their new rule essentially reverts to pre-2015 standards, which regulates every puddle and ditch in America, and further intrudes on Americans’ private property rights and the Constitution’s limits on federal power,” said Dr. Paul.

The Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association also released the following statements on the ruling:

“Farm families have always been on the forefront of good stewardship when it comes to natural resources, and certainly taking care of their water supplies is paramount. But as the EPA proposes to return to the pre-2015 interpretation of WOTUS, we need to have some clear directions on the definition of navigable waterways that are not subject to change with every new administration,” said Mark Haney, President of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation.

“Cattlemen depend on clean water for the health of our livestock and the sustainability of our operations. We know the importance of protecting and maintaining traditionally navigable waters and abutting wetlands, however, jurisdiction over prior converted cropland, stock ponds, and agricultural ditches is an unnecessary burden to livestock producers,” said the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.

Background:

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quietly issued its proposed rule re-writing the definition of “waters of the United States,” commonly referred to as WOTUS. After promising to listen to the concerns of the farming community, the EPA introduced its rule before finishing consultations with the agriculture industry. The proposed rule harkens to the pre-2015 Obama standards with even less certainty over which waters are covered and is already facing opposition from agriculture groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The regulation would also repeal the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which was applauded by the agriculture industry as a step in the right direction, and is similar to Dr. Paul’s Defense of Environment and Property Act which he reintroduced in July.

You can read more about Dr. Paul’s Defense of Environment and Property Act HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=DE949EE9-DDDB-439A-8888-3981CF3E255E,McConnell Comments on the Passing of Paul Cummins,2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"LOUISVILLE, KY -- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of Paul Cummins of Mount Vernon, Kentucky:

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Cummins, a proud Kentucky business owner who made a lasting impact on his family, friends, and neighbors. He helped found multiple businesses in Mount Vernon, bringing industry, good jobs, and small-town pride to his community. Through his leadership, he became a Rockcastle County mainstay, loved by all who knew him. Elaine and I share our deepest condolences with the Cummins family and will hold them in our prayers.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-releases-reports-economic-cost-vaccine-mandates-across-us/,Dr. Rand Paul Releases Reports on the Economic Cost of Vaccine Mandates Across the U.S.,2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 23, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, released reports for all 50 states in the U.S. on the economic cost of vaccine mandates.

“Under President Biden’s unlawful and unconstitutional vaccine mandates, our nation risks losing up to 28 percent of its labor force, not to mention it will cost businesses at least $1.29 billion,” said Dr. Paul. “In a free country, people have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. President Biden’s command that working Americans and private businesses submit to his mandate upon penalty of loss of livelihood is a flagrant abuse of power that will destroy the U.S. economy and work force.”

You can find the reports for all 50 states HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=8962EF2A-1B36-4AC9-A8EF-7CC4AA713812,House Democrats Walk the Plank for Reckless Taxing & Spending Spree that Would Hurt Families and Help China,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Ninety percent of Americans are worried about inflation, but House Democrats just voted to let Washington D.C. print, borrow, and spend trillions more.

“Our economy is shaky, but House Democrats just voted for historic tax hikes that would drain hundreds of billions of dollars out of U.S. industries and kill American jobs.

“House Democrats pay lip service to economic fairness, but they just voted for a plan that combines tax hikes for the middle class with massive tax cuts for blue-state millionaires. In 2023, their plan would give net tax cuts to fewer than 4% of families who make between $50,000 and $100,000, but to more than 67% of households making between $500,000 and $1 million.

“‘Moderate’ Democrats pretended to care about deficits and budget gimmicks. But even though nonpartisan referees had to swallow most of the Democrats’ dishonest accounting tricks, they still proved this bill is not paid for. It would increase the national debt by about $800 billion just over the first five years, just as families are fighting inflation. But the ‘moderates’ fell in line anyway.

“Americans never asked for the culture-warrior HHS Secretary who got famous by suing religious groups to be given sweeping new power over childcare.

“Americans never asked for prescription drug socialism that will leave us with fewer new drugs and treatments, literally costing lives.

“Americans never asked for radical anti-energy policies that would make gas and heating even more expensive and increase our dependence on Russia and China.

“In poll after poll and in this month’s elections, the American people told House Democrats to back away from the cliff. But the House listened to President Biden and Speaker Pelosi instead of the people.

“Now only a few Senate Democrats can protect American families from these radical and painful policies. It is up to them to kill this bill.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-honors-reed-family-floral-virgie-kentucky-senate-small-business-week/,"Dr. Rand Paul Honors Reed Family Floral of Virgie, Kentucky as Senate Small Business of the Week",2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 19, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Reed Family Floral of Virgie, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Reed Family Floral of Virgie, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In January 2020, Evan Sykes founded Reed Family Floral. Evan, who grew up in Pike County, was inspired by his family’s legacy of entrepreneurship. From 1981 to 2003, his great-aunt and great-grandmother owned and operated a flower shop called Reed Floral. After graduating from Shelby Valley High School and earning an AA from Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Evan decided to honor that legacy and establish his own floral business. Starting with $500, he began making and selling wreaths. The business grew rapidly, enabling Evan to purchase a small building to house his operation. When Reed Family Floral expanded again, Evan had the perfect location in mind. In August 2021, Evan moved his business into the same building that had housed his family’s flower shop decades earlier.

Today, Reed Family Floral has become a local favorite. As the owner and sole full-time employee, Evan handles every aspect of the business – from accounting and marketing, to floral design and delivery. He prepares flower arrangements for any occasion, including weddings, school functions, and funerals. Evan’s floral arrangements are in demand year-round, especially around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Notably, Evan balanced his entrepreneurship and education. While running a full-time business, he is pursuing a BA in Accounting at Morehead State University. As a non-essential business, Reed Family Floral was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns. Evan rose to the challenge, working with other small businesses to source supplies and adapting his contactless delivery options.

Like many small business owners, Evan is active in his community. Locally, Reed Family Floral has sponsored the Pikeville High School tennis team and the Shelby Valley High School cheer team. They provide arrangements for school events, and participate in local fairs. From day one, Reed Family Floral has valued customer service and high-quality products. Recently, they were recognized by local news outlet Mountaintop Media as one of the best flower shops in the area.

Reed Family Floral is a remarkable example of the critical role small businesses play in every aspect of building community. Small businesses like Reed Family Floral form the heart of towns across Kentucky, regularly stepping up to support their communities. Congratulations to Evan and the entire team at Reed Family Floral. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=443803A2-B9CA-461A-973E-779B1ED57AB3,McConnell: Senate Should Use NDAA to Course-Correct Biden Administration’s Mistakes,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“Well, at long last, the Senate will officially turn to the NDAA.

“Every day, world events remind us that America faces serious, growing threats. In too many cases, President Biden’s decisions have made things worse. So our annual opportunity for the Senate to have its say is as important this year as it’s ever been.

“In Russia, Putin’s preparing to escalate military hostilities along the border with Ukraine. And he is using Europe’s reliance on Russian natural gas to bully our friends.

“But President Biden actually removed obstacles to Putin’s brand-new pipeline that will further extend his leverage and further enrich his cronies. So I hope the Senate will consider an NDAA amendment to sanction this project and to provide additional lethal support to Ukraine. These initiatives have previously won bipartisan support so I hope Democrats will join Republicans in pushing back on Moscow.

“China is flaunting major military innovations like hypersonic weapons systems, stepping up airspace intrusions over Taiwan, and blaming America for their bad behavior.

“But while President Biden and our Democratic colleagues like to talk a good game about China, they have yet to really walk the walk. President’s Biden budget request for our military and defense does not even keep pace with President Biden’s inflation.

“In addition, while Russia openly threats its neighbors and China builds up its conventional and nuclear forces, there are reports that Democrats are considering unprecedented new constraints on America’s own nuclear options, through a ‘no first use’ or ‘sole purpose’ policy.

“Our allies have strong concerns about this. I hope the Senate will use the NDAA process to demonstrate bipartisan support for finally modernizing our nuclear triad. That’s the bedrock of deterrence and our strongest defense against these serious threats.

“What about terrorism? Following President Biden’s Afghanistan disaster, we’re facing new and growing threats.

“The new Taliban government has made cabinet ministers out of terrorists whom the Obama-Biden Administration let out of Guantanamo Bay. But the Biden-Harris administration has still naively acted like these characters care one bit about international norms. That’s why Republicans have an amendment to ensure that none of the funding for Afghanistan aid can flow to the Taliban.

“It’s an indictment of President Biden’s policy that such an amendment is even necessary, but here we are.

“In the Middle East, Iranian-backed terrorists are rampaging from Yemen to Iraq to Syria. They are emboldened as our deterrence has eroded. Given the multiple attacks on U.S. forces and facilities, we are fortunate more Americans haven’t been killed. It may only be a matter of time before we see US casualties at the hands of Iranian-backed terrorists.

“But in the wake of these growing threats, Democrats want to use the NDAA – a bill that should strengthen our national defense – as an occasion to weaken the authorities that support our military’s presence and operational flexibility by repealing the 2002 AUMF. I expect a robust debate about this.

“I’m glad we will finally be able to have these debates and these votes. America needs a course correction and the Senate needs to supply it.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=5E6CC1F0-09DE-46CA-B0DF-BA2089C702B8,"Democrats’ Reckless Tax Hikes Would Hurt Working Families, Help China, and Benefit the Ultra-Wealthy",2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“American families are dealing with painful inflation every day. They have been fighting this daily battle for months now.

“A few months ago, a grandfather raising four grandkids in Missouri told reporters he had to cancel summer camp for his 8-year-old and his 6-year-old in order to keep affording diapers for their twin younger brothers.

“One Maryland woman told the local news she’d gone to the grocery store to buy meat for her family, but was turned away by the price tag and had to leave with a $2 loaf of bread instead.

“One man in Massachusetts who cares for his elderly mother told reporters that his 94-year-old mom needs the house kept warm, so they are getting absolutely crushed by runaway heating costs. Here’s what he said:

“‘Before, you'd go to the store, and if you had $100, you could buy four bags of groceries and be happy. Now, you're lucky to get a bag. Milk, orange juice, eggs. Plus the oil for the house, the water bills. It's just crazy. It's so much money. How is somebody supposed to survive?’

“This persistent and painful inflation has been directly fueled by the reckless spending spree that Democrats rammed through in March. Even if Washington Democrats didn’t inflict more new damage, economists still say ‘we’re going to see inflation get worse before it gets better.’

“The Democratic Leader said on March 12th, ‘I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the near-term, are very real.’ He was catastrophically wrong. And these same people want yet another multi-trillion-dollar bite at the apple.

“American families know the spending part of Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree would spell disaster. 67% just told a survey that Washington should cut back on printing and spending because of inflation and rising costs.

“And then there’s the taxing part of their reckless taxing and spending spree.

“The bill that Democrats are writing behind closed doors would hike taxes on the American people by an estimated $1.5 trillion. A trillion and a half dollars in tax increases.

“Democrats have already turned a strong economy into a shaky economy. Now they want to add the biggest tax hikes in a generation.

“A huge chunk of that is hundreds of billions of dollars of tax hikes on American industries and employers. Because the Biden Administration has become enamored with a global scheme where countries around the world supposedly all agree to hike their taxes together.

“This is an awful idea. Remember, in 2019, Republican policies had set up the best economy for working Americans in a generation. That was in large part because we’d just cut taxes substantially. We made America a more attractive place to do business.

“President Biden wants to do just the opposite: thrust America into some kind of global non-compete agreement. We’re supposed to promise Europe and Asia that we won’t make America an especially attractive place to bring jobs and prosperity.

“It gets worse. President Biden and Secretary Yellen want America to leap over this cliff first, and tax the heck out of American industries while we just wait and see if our competitors really follow suit.

“You better believe China would be thrilled to see the Democrats’ bill drain hundreds of billions of dollars out of our own private sector as a symbolic gesture to the rest of the world.

“Democrats’ tax policies are just like their energy policies. They won’t build back better. They’ll Build Back Beijing.

“This is just one part of the $1.5 trillion in job-killing tax hikes. There all kinds of tax increases that would hit major employers, Main Street small businesses, and American families.

“Nonpartisan experts have confirmed the Democrats’ bill would completely break the President’s promise not to raise ‘a single penny more’ in taxes on middle-class households.

“They even want to send tens of billions in extra funding to the IRS so they can hire an army of new agents to snoop and audit their way across the country. But less than 3% of the huge IRS windfall would fund better customer service for taxpayers.

“Finally, in the midst of all these tax hikes, Democrats from New York, New Jersey, and California have managed to include a massive tax cut for wealthy people who choose to reside in high-tax blue states. This bonanza for blue-state millionaires and billionaires would cost almost $300 billion on its own.

“Even the Washington Post could only marvel at the audacity. Here’s their headline: ‘The second-biggest program in the Democrats’ spending plan gives billions to the rich.’

“In fact, Madam President, even though Democrats want to hike taxes by $1.5 trillion, their bill still manages to give a net tax cut to 89% of people making between $500,000 and a million dollars, and 69% of households making over a million.

“A huge blow to American competitiveness. Job-killing tax hikes. But Democrats make sure to look out for the ultra-wealthy on the coasts. A supermajority of them get tax cuts. I’m almost impressed our colleagues have found a way to be this out of touch.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=FF173591-8C98-4045-B566-9D2514D27D78,ICYMI: McConnell on The Guy Benson Show,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined Guy Benson this afternoon on Fox News Radio’s ‘The Guy Benson Show’. See below for highlights or click here to listen to the full interview:

On the Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spending Spree:

“What’s happening here, Guy, is the Speaker is marching the House Democratic conference, or at least those that put them in the majority in swing states, right off the cliff. Marching them right off the cliff. Pursuing this ideological transformation of America into Bernie Sanders’ vision of what the country ought to be. We already had a reaction from the public about how they feel about what these guys have been doing. We saw it in Virginia and even more importantly in New Jersey where not even competitive races had enormous Republican support. It was a protest vote against inflation and what the Democrats have been doing, already, all year.”

On Rampant Inflation:

“Manchin and Sinema have both said what the House does is irrelevant, which makes what the Speaker is doing to her own members even more outrageous. She is literally walking them off a cliff to support a bill that will never become law. And even if this reckless tax and spending spree ultimately in some form or another, clears the Senate, even liberal economists, who actually prefer from a policy point of view what the Democrats are trying to accomplish here, are admitting that it will exacerbate the inflation problem, both this year and next year.

“Inflation is the number one issue. 90% of Americans are deeply concerned about inflation. That’s the biggest issue. This measure is totally unresponsive to what the American people are concerned about as they go to fill up their cars, or go to the grocery store to try to prepare for Thanksgiving. The worst inflation in 30 years is on their mind, not more reckless taxing and spending.”

On the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill:

“What it did was separate something that’s popular -- 75% of Americans want to see the infrastructure addressed -- from something that’s unpopular, which is what they were left with after that. Secondly, my vote was contingent upon there not being any revisitation of the 2017 tax bill in the infrastructure bill, and there wasn’t. Not a single tax reduction item in the comprehensive tax bill of 2017 was altered in the infrastructure bill. And it was largely paid for, you could argue it wasn’t fully paid for, but it was overwhelmingly popular. [It] didn’t raise taxes and it separated out from the rest of the bill the popular part, leaving them only to deal with what I would call the ‘spinach’, the ‘sugar’ having already cleared.”

On Giving Thanks This Year:

“Well it’s probably not different from any other family. We gather around the table and we obviously count our blessings, not only the health of our family is front and center, but the blessing of being in the greatest country ever. The efforts that many particularly woke people on the hard left to run down this country make me angry. I’m sure if they’re this unhappy about America, there’d be other countries that would be happy to take them, but I’m among those who find myself among the luckiest people in the world to be in the United States of America.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-urges-senate-block-us-arms-sales-saudi-arabia/,Dr. Rand Paul Urges Senate to Block U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 18, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval to block proposed U.S. arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Paul was joined by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) in introducing the resolution.

The sale includes 280 air-to-air missiles and 596 missile launchers, among other weapons and associated training and support, with an estimated cost of $650 billion.

“A message needs to be sent to Saudi Arabia that we don’t approve of their war with Yemen,” said Dr. Paul. “By participating in this sale, we would not only be rewarding reprehensible behavior, but also exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. I urge Congress and the Biden Administration to consider the possible consequences of this sale that could accelerate an arms race in the Middle East and jeopardize the security of our military technologies.”

“As the Saudi government continues to wage its devastating war in Yemen and repress its own people, we should not be rewarding them with more arms sales,” said Sen. Sanders.

“The war in Yemen is a humanitarian tragedy, and U.S. participation in this war remains undeclared by Congress. The administration’s proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia contradicts the President’s own stated policy. I am proud to once again stand with my colleagues and push back on unconstitutional support of this war,” said Sen. Lee.

Background:

On November 4, 2021, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $650 million. The AIM-120C is predominately used defensively to strike drones from the air; although, they could conceivably be used in an offensive strike on other aircraft. The proposed sale comes in light of the Saudi-led fuel blockade of Yemen, which has prevented the free flow of food and water in the country. Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced an end to “offensive” support in the war in Yemen. However, Saudi Arabia has continued its blockade in Yemen, which has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the country.

You can read the joint resolution HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=68F3F443-BD85-4719-B0BC-26DB210C6D49,"With Families Hurting, Democrats Want to Try Inflating Their Way Out of Inflation",2021-11-17,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“A lot has gone wrong since this unified Democratic government took the reins in January.

“Look at foreign policy. The Biden Administration’s clumsy retreat from Afghanistan left Americans behind who wanted out and handed the country to a government staffed with terrorists who used to be locked up in Guantanamo Bay.

“Look at energy independence. Or, I should say, energy dependence. President Biden cancelled our own Keystone XL pipeline but cleared the path for a new pipeline for Vladimir Putin. The amount of Russian oil that America has to import has already nearly doubled on the Democrats’ watch.

“Look at the border. Illegal crossers are flooding across our southern border, an all-time high — but Democrats have interior enforcement arrests down to a decade low.

“But there is no question what crisis is top of mind for middle-class families. There is no question what is keeping working Americans awake at night.

“Inflation. The runaway prices and unpredictability that Democrats’ policies have fueled.

“Ninety percent of Americans told one recent survey they are ‘somewhat’ or ‘extremely’ concerned with inflation.

“We are a huge and diverse country, Mr. President. It’s hard to get 9 in 10 Americans to agree on almost anything. But less than one year under Democrats’ policies has 90 percent of America worried about inflation.

“And it’s no wonder. Year-on-year, consumer prices have risen faster than they have in over three decades. Last month marked the fifth month in a row that inflation has topped 5%.

“These across-the-board numbers can sound a little abstract. Let’s make this very tangible.

“In the past year, buying meat, fish, and eggs has gotten 12% more expensive. A gallon of gas costs the average American $1.31 more than it did a year ago. And heaven forbid anyone having to replace a family car this year – used auto prices are up 26%.

“Even getting family and friends together for Thanksgiving is a much pricier prospect than it was last year. Turkey, alone, is an extra 25 cents per pound. Factor in all the fixings, and some estimates project a feast next week will run families up to 15% more than last year.

***

“For a while, the White House tried to downplay the problem. President Biden and his team told American families that costs weren’t really rising as much as it seemed…

“Or that, okay, costs were rising, but it would only last a few months…

“Or, as some liberals argued, that if you remove food costs, housing costs, and transportation costs from the equation, inflation wasn’t really so bad!

“Some have tried to argue that rampant inflation is actually a high-class problem to have, because at least we aren’t in a recession. I’m not kidding. I guess they think working Americans should stop complaining and be grateful things aren’t even worse.

“But a sad irony is that inflation is exactly the opposite of a high-class problem. Inflation is like a hugely regressive tax hike that hits the middle class, the working class, and the poor far more than it hurts wealthy people.

“The three biggest drivers of the staggering 6.2% inflation rate we logged last month were housing, transportation, and food. Those aren’t luxuries, they’re essentials, and they take up a much bigger share of families’ budgets from the middle class on down.

“The Democrats’ inflation is functioning like an ultra-punitive tax on the American families who can least afford it. Exactly the opposite of a ‘high-class problem.’

***

“It didn’t have to be this way, Mr. President.

“This inflation spike wasn’t just predictable. It was, in fact, predicted.

“This past spring, I warned my Democratic colleagues right here, on this floor, that their unbelievably expensive and poorly-targeted spending bill that masqueraded as COVID relief would turn our strong economic recovery into an inflationary mess. Many of my Republican colleagues sent the same warning.

“But Democrats didn’t have to take our word for it. Even their own favorite liberal economists — like President Clinton’s Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and President Obama’s CEA Chairman Jason Furman — warned that liberal bill might supercharge inflation.

“Now our Democratic colleagues want to ram through another, even bigger reckless taxing and spending spree that would make inflation even worse. Many of those same liberal economists support this new spending spree because of all the left-wing goodies that are packed into it. But even they largely admit the package would make inflation even worse next year.

“Steven Rattner, a senior economic advisor to President Obama, just wrote in the New York Times that, ‘the original sin was the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan… That has contributed materially to today’s inflation levels.’

“He goes on to say that Democrats’ new taxing and spending spree, ‘can be deemed ‘paid for’ only if one embraces budget gimmicks, like assuming that some of the most important initiatives will be allowed to expire in just a few years. The result [is] a package that front-loads spending while tax revenues only arrive over a decade.’

“Mr. Rattner cites an outside estimate that, ‘the plan would likely add $800 billion or more to the deficit over the next five years, exacerbating inflationary pressures.’

“This is a former top advisor to President Obama — a liberal Democrat — explaining that the Democrats’ new proposal as currently constituted would make inflation worse. He says it’s the Democrats’ proposal itself that needs to be built back better.

“President Biden and his party have already brought needless pain on American families with their reckless spending.

“Ramming through another multi-trillion-dollar partisan wish list would compound the damage.

“The hardworking men and women of this country cannot afford to be guinea pigs in a socialist experiment where Democrats try to inflate their way out of inflation.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=7DE2BB23-680F-4181-AE0D-E61E1E7CCECE,McConnell Comments on the Passing of Former Paducah Mayor Gerry Montgomery,2021-11-17,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of former Paducah Mayor Gerry Montgomery:

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend Gerry Montgomery, who was a true champion for Western Kentucky and its people. I had the pleasure of working alongside Gerry during the entirety of her tenure as mayor of Paducah. She brought passion, ingenuity, and incredible generosity to her job, making leaps and bounds of progress throughout her time in office.

“Gerry will be remembered for many things, including proclaiming Paducah ‘Quilt City U.S.A.’ and opening her city’s famous Quilt Museum. Those kinds of projects – deeply rooted in the historical, artistic, and cultural fabric of Western Kentucky – typified a career focused solely on making Paducah a better place to live, work, and visit. Even after retiring as mayor, Gerry remained involved in Western Kentucky community activism, founding the extraordinarily impactful Community Foundation of West Kentucky.

“Kentucky lost one of its finest public servants today. My thoughts are with Gerry’s children, Sarah Katharine, Evelyn, and David, and her five grandchildren. Elaine and I share our deepest condolences with the Montgomery family and will hold them in our prayers.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-releases-report-economic-cost-vaccine-mandates-kentucky/,Dr. Rand Paul Releases Report on the Economic Cost of Vaccine Mandates in Kentucky,2021-11-17,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 17, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, released a report highlighting the economic cost of vaccine mandates in Kentucky. Dr. Paul will release the reports for all 50 states tomorrow.

“Under President Biden’s unlawful and unconstitutional vaccine mandates, Kentucky risks losing up to 34 percent of its labor force, not to mention it will cost Kentucky businesses at least $50 million,” said Dr. Paul. “In a free country, people have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. President Biden’s command that working Americans and private businesses submit to his mandate upon penalty of loss of livelihood is a flagrant abuse of power that will destroy Kentucky’s economy and work force.”

Highlights:

677,458 Kentucky workers are at risk of losing their jobs if they do not comply with Biden’s authoritarian mandates

Complying with the vaccine mandates will cost manufacturers at least $5.9 million

35 percent of retail workers risk losing their job if they resist Biden’s vaccine mandates

You can read the Kentucky report HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-statement-small-business-committee-ranking-member-rand-paul-md-sba-funding-planned-parenthood/,"Statement from Small Business Committee Ranking Member Rand Paul, M.D. on SBA Funding Planned Parenthood",2021-11-17,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 17, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, released the following statement regarding the Small Business Administration’s funding of Planned Parenthood:

“Small Business Committee minority members have been clear for months that the SBA must be held accountable for using money meant for small businesses to fund Planned Parenthood. The Trump Administration ruled that Planned Parenthood was not a small business and therefore ineligible for SBA funds. The Biden Administration reinstated the awards to Planned Parenthood but is refusing to reveal the documents. Not only is this money a payoff for the Biden Administration’s political allies, the money is free from the longstanding prohibition on using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. This should be a grave concern to all taxpayers. We have spent months using every tool at our disposal to get the SBA to tell us the truth about what is going on and reverse course with this money. The SBA has stonewalled us at every turn, refusing to answer basic questions or provide even customary oversight information.

“We will not relent on demanding accountability for the Biden Administration’s lawless actions. We will not be swayed by events staged to generate press releases and speeches. We will not stop standing up for life. If the SBA will not reverse course, we will not be complicit by providing the SBA additional personnel to continue on their path. President Biden would be well advised to offer his current nominee another position in his administration.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=03B93F19-4606-47B5-90C9-A99D6DAAFC95,"McConnell Helps Secure $616,000 for Frankfort Roadway Development Project",2021-11-16,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Department of Transportation awarded $616,000 to the City of Frankfort to fund a roadway redevelopment plan. These funds are distributed as part of the Department of Transportation’s competitive RAISE planning grant program.

The grant will be used to study upgrades for a two-mile, twenty-five-block section of Holmes Street in Frankfort. Planning will include community engagement, a traffic and safety analysis, a parking needs evaluation, and the development of new access management strategies.

Senator McConnell contacted the Department of Transportation in support of the City of Frankfort’s grant application.

“Like many communities in Kentucky, the City of Frankfort is always looking for ways to upgrade its roadways to create a safer, more welcoming living environment that invites development. I was proud to work with Judge Wells, Mayor Wilkerson and other community leaders to support this RAISE grant application and help Frankfort design an upgrade to the Holmes Street corridor, fostering the jobs and small businesses our Commonwealth needs to thrive,” said Senator McConnell. “Projects like this are a key part of my work in Washington and showcase the direct impact federal investment can have on Kentucky communities. I look forward to continuing to fight to ensure the Commonwealth receives its fair share of infrastructure spending.”

“I appreciate Senator McConnell’s hard work in helping our community acquire the Department of Transportation RAISE grant for the Holmes Street area. It is an important corridor into our historic downtown which could vitally use these improvements. I am excited to see this area is getting the serious attention it gravely needs. I thank the Senator for being a strong advocate for our Franklin County community,” said Franklin County Judge-Executive Huston Wells.

“The Holmes Street corridor is a diverse neighborhood of residential, commercial and industrial property and is an important entrance into our city. The RAISE grant will help the City of Frankfort better connect the corridor to downtown, attract new investment, and improve conditions for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and existing businesses. We are excited for this opportunity and thank our Congressional delegation, especially Senator McConnell, for his leadership and support for this grant,” said Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson.

""We are pleased that the City of Frankfort was selected to receive the RAISE grant. The Holmes Street Corridor is a designated Opportunity Zone in Frankfort and this grant will allow us to plan how we can attract businesses, create jobs and improve safety and livability for residents in this key gateway to the city,” said Frankfort City Manager Laura Hagg.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=0D69D004-B580-45FE-8AF3-016AD6792B61,Build Back Beijing: Democrats’ Anti-Energy Bill Would Hurt Families and Help China,2021-11-16,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Two weeks ago, President Biden and his team flew to Glasgow for a glitzy conference. World leaders traveled there to attend one another’s speeches on carbon emissions and the climate.

“The world’s largest emitter was absent. China pumps out more than a quarter of the entire world’s emissions but President Xi didn’t bother to attend this conference.

“Putin didn’t show up either. He and his cronies in Moscow are too busy using Russia’s natural gas stranglehold to make energy hostages out of our European friends who rushed too naively towards renewables.

“This goes to the core problems with the anti-energy agenda that liberal elites want to thrust on our country. Maximum self-inflicted pain for American families… in exchange for no meaningful global gains.

“They’d have America tie one hand behind our back while our competitors and adversaries keep right on going.

“Hurts families… helps China.

“Across the country, working families are already worrying about the big, potentially historic spikes in energy costs and heating bills that are heading their way.

“Here’s a New York Times headline from last week: ‘Winter Heating Bills Loom as the Next Inflation Threat.’

“Futures contracts for home heating fuels have skyrocketed in price. Natural gas futures have just about doubled from last year. For heating oil and propane, it’s even worse.

“Our colleagues on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee are holding a hearing this very morning on rising heating costs.

“In Kentucky, about 4 in 10 households are heated by natural gas. Families are about to get slammed.

“Even more Kentucky families rely on straight electricity for their heat. And in our state, more than two-thirds of our electrical power comes from coal. Coal literally keeps the lights on and the cold out.

“That’s why the original Obama-Biden war on coal hit states like Kentucky so hard. And it’s why the even more radical sequel that Democrats are planning next would fall on the heartland like a ton of bricks.

“The President’s special envoy for climate issues, John Kerry, says, ‘[Y]ou have to phase down coal before you can end coal.’ One of the President’s nominees to the Treasury Department has admitted that small producers of affordable American energy, ‘are going to probably go bankrupt in short order.’

“American families are staring down the barrel of skyrocketing heating bills, and the Democrats’ response is to go to war against affordable American energy.

“The reckless taxing and spending spree they’re writing behind closed doors and want to pass in a matter of weeks would spend hundreds of billions of dollars on Green New Deal-type policies that would saddle families with even higher prices and make our nation even more dependent on Russia and the Middle East.

***

“Of course, energy inflation is just one part of the huge inflation crisis that Democrats have unleashed.

“According to reports on one new survey, ninety percent of Americans are either somewhat concerned or very concerned about inflation and rising costs. Nine in 10 households are hurting.

“67% of the country, two thirds, say Washington needs to stop printing and spending so much and driving prices even higher.

“Energy bills and gas prices are just one corner of this inflation crisis. But Democrats want to ignore the people, plow ahead, and spend trillions more.

“Even liberal economists who like the Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree because they agree with the far-left transformation admit that it would make inflation even worse next year.

“There is no part of our economy that can afford another massive dose of socialism.

***

“But Democrats are specifically targeting American energy to get hit especially hard.

“They’re planning direct new taxes, new fees, and new regulatory mandates for energy producers.

“They want to make affordable, reliable energy artificially expensive to force Americans toward the less affordable, less reliable forms of energy that elite liberals would rather they use.

“It would hurt families badly… and it would help China in a big way.

“That’s because the Biden Administration doesn’t have any strategic plan to snap its fingers and turn our massive country into some green utopia overnight.

“They just want to throw boatloads of government money at things like solar panels and electric vehicles and hope it all works out.

“But China absolutely dominates these supply chains. For lithium batteries. For solar panels. For practically all these fashionable purchases into which Democrats want to dump all this money.

“In all likelihood, Democrats’ supposedly ‘green’ agenda would just provide a massive one-way gift to our adversary, the world’s number-one emitter, the Chinese Communist Party.

“This isn’t ‘Build Back Better.’ It’s ‘Build Back Beijing!’

“Here’s just one example.

“There’s a raw material called polysilicon that is crucial for solar panels. According to the New York Times, more than 80 percent of the entire world’s supply comes from China. About half of the world’s supply comes just from the Xinjiang province, where China is brutalizing the Uyghur minority with tactics that include forced labor.

“There are other key resources including critical minerals where China has similar strangleholds.

“Here are some recent headlines:

“‘Lithium Shortage May Stall Electric Car Revolution and Embed China’s Lead.’

“‘China’s lithium companies are in an investment frenzy.’

“And just like liberal policies are hostile to the American energy we produce here at home, they are also hostile to exploring for these critical minerals here at home.

“Their massive proposal is packed with anti-hard-rock-mining provisions that would make it even harder to stand up American supply chains for critical minerals.

“So here’s the bottom line, Mr. President. American families don’t want Washington politicians waging a holy war on fossil fuels in the first place. They can’t afford that nonsense.

“But it’s even more absurd that Democrats’ top-down schemes would just increase China’s wealth and dominance along the way.

“They don’t have some smart master plan to invest in America’s future. They’ve got a plan to Build Back Beijing. Raise American families’ gas prices and heating bills even higher so that we could massively stimulate Chinese export markets.

“Hurt families; help China. Every piece of their reckless policies fit this mold.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=1FF3F9C5-9B6F-4F88-8E1F-518719B43037,McConnell Comments on the Passing of Representative Larry Hopkins,2021-11-16,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of former U.S. Representative Larry Hopkins (KY-06):

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, former Representative Larry Hopkins, who proudly served the people of Central Kentucky at each level of local, state, and federal government. Larry had an independent voice, allowing him to overcome partisan rancor to make friends on both sides of the political aisle. He was a premier legislator in both Frankfort and Washington and will be missed by all of his former colleagues.

“I had the opportunity to serve alongside Larry in Congress for nearly a decade, standing by his side as he tackled the most pressing issues facing our state and the nation. As a former marine, he used his expertise on the House Armed Services Committee to reform and modernize our military. As a representative of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, he worked on numerous bills to improve the lives of our farmers. Above all, Larry cared deeply about the Commonwealth.

“Larry was devoted to his wife, Carolyn, his daughters, Shae and Tara, and his son, Josh. I know Larry took great pride in the successful careers of his children. Elaine and I share our deepest condolences with the Hopkins family and will hold them in our prayers.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=4262D266-4656-4E53-A78C-9605882B50E3,McConnell on Senator Leahy’s Announced Retirement,2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding this morning’s announcement from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT):

“Earlier today, our distinguished President Pro Tem, the senior Senator for Vermont, announced that he will conclude his incredible run of Senate service. Senator Leahy plans to retire at the end of next year — at the conclusion of his eighth term.

“Senator Leahy has served Vermonters in the Senate for longer than anyone in the state’s history. Of course, he has also become an all-time Senate institution in his own right.

“I think particularly of the opportunities I had to work closely with Senator Leahy when we were sharing leadership of the Appropriations subcommittee for State and Foreign Ops.

“It is hard to imagine the Senate without Pat and his lovely wife Marcelle. For now, I just want to salute our colleague on the occasion of his announcement, and add my congratulations on his remarkable career thus far.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=BCCF04AF-75FE-486E-9306-CF55481B1F36,Democrats Finally Admit Inflation is a Problem — But Still Want Even More Reckless Spending,2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Last week, even more economic data continued to confirm that inflation is hammering working families across America.

“In October, consumer prices saw their steepest spike in three decades. The worst inflation surge in more than 30 years.

“When I was back home last week, I heard constantly from Kentuckians who’ve watched their gas prices and grocery prices soar.

“This is happening in every state. Last month was the fifth straight month in which national consumer prices rose at least 5%.

“The Democrats’ inflation crisis has gotten so bad that Washington Democrats have stopped trying to pretend that it’s just transitory and are starting to admit that it’s on them to fix it.

“The same Democrats who spent months denying that inflation was a lasting problem, the last people in America to wake up to this reality, are now convinced they’re just the people to fix it.

“But their supposed solutions are more of the same absurd policies that helped dig this hole.

“After months of mostly ignoring the problem, President Biden finally responded to last week’s inflation data by insisting that, ‘reversing this trend is a top priority for me.’

“But —surprise! — the President’s preferred ‘solution’ just so happens to be the exact same reckless taxing and spending spree his Administration has been pushing for months now.

“They cooked up this massive, multi-trillion-dollar spending spree back when they were saying inflation wasn’t a major problem and it was still time to spend like crazy. But now, miraculously, that exact same spending binge happens to be their prescription to fight inflation?

“Give me a break. This is just a sweeping socialist wish list in search of a justification.

“It’s another mega-dose of the same radical recklessness that Republicans have warned against all along… that American families are already paying dearly for, as we speak.

“But so far, Democrats seem intent on grabbing the hot stove yet again — and it’s American families who stand to get burned.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=E8F1801D-2E18-40A5-9D12-298674E4CC39,"Overdue Defense Legislation Deserves a Robust, Bipartisan Senate Floor Process",2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding NDAA:

“Last week, I had the honor of spending Veterans Day at the groundbreaking ceremony for Louisville’s new VA hospital.

“We are finally going to replace the city’s original VA medical center that was built almost 70 years ago. Kentucky veterans are going to get new, expanded options for the cutting-edge treatment they deserve.

“This long-awaited groundbreaking was a special day for Kentucky and our heroes.

“But for me, the celebration also underscored how unfortunate and unacceptable it is that, when it comes to our legislative duties here in Washington, this Democratic Senate majority is coming up short on supporting our servicemembers past, present, and future.

“Today is November 15th. The full Senate should have considered, amended, and then passed an annual defense authorization bill months ago. That’s how it normally works. It’s a major bipartisan priority that the Senate majority focuses on, as a matter of basic governance.

“But this unified Democratic government has been distracted from the people’s business. They’ve spent months behind closed doors, putting together another reckless taxing and spending spree. And this obsession with party-line wish lists has led Democrats to drop the ball on basic duties.

“Keeping our servicemembers and our commanders waiting months for an NDAA is just one example. The Democratic majority has also completely dropped the ball on a bipartisan appropriations process.

“And by the way, President Biden’s proposals for funding the government would have us cut defense funding after inflation.

“According to reports, China recently tested a hypersonic vehicle that is capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Just this morning, according to some early press reports, Russia may have tested some kind of new anti-satellite weapon system.

“In the Middle East, President Biden’s own advisors are saying that his rushed retreat from Afghanistan will open the door for a terrorist resurgence.

“It is against this dangerous backdrop that our Democratic majority does not move an NDAA until mid-November… and President Biden doesn’t want defense funding to keep pace with President Biden’s inflation.

“Well, Madam President, better late than never.

“I’m glad the Democratic Leader says he will finally let the full Senate consider an NDAA in the coming days.

“The Senate will need to have the kind of robust, bipartisan floor process that is customary for this important bill and we’ll need to leave extraneous items on the sidelines.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=811D8C40-3FDF-40C0-905D-CF4F06F74353,McConnell and Comer Break Ground on Barkley Regional Airport’s New Terminal,2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"PADUCAH, Kentucky – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Congressman James Comer (KY-01) joined state and local leaders in Paducah today to break ground on Barkley Regional Airport’s new terminal project.

Barkley Regional Airport received $32 million in federal funding to construct its new terminal and apron through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) discretionary funding, entitlement funds, and CARES Act relief funding. Senator McConnell and Congressman Comer contacted the FAA in support of the discretionary grants, and later contacted the FAA to ensure the complete and timely delivery of funding installments.

“The supply chains and transit routes that run through our state keep America on the move. By building this new terminal, we are cementing our critical competitive advantage as a national leader in modern transportation infrastructure,” said Senator McConnell. “As the only congressional leader not from New York or California, I am fully aware of the vital importance of regional hubs like Paducah. I was proud to use my leadership position to help this project in any way I could and stand alongside Representative Comer while he did the same in the House of Representatives.”

“I’m glad to see this exciting new project get off the ground and look forward to seeing the positive economic benefits that a new airport terminal will have on the Paducah region,” said Congressman Comer.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=F256AEC1-E21F-47C9-9CC0-42E4BFCB0033,McConnell Recognizes Kentucky Family as “Angels in Adoption”,2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spoke with Jonathan and Caley Neely of Pineville, Kentucky, to congratulate them on being recognized as 2021 Angels in Adoption. Senator McConnell nominated the Neely family for the honor.

The Neely family’s adoption journey began in May 2020 when they were matched with a young expecting mother with a history of drug addiction. Unfortunately, the mother relapsed into substance abuse during her pregnancy, raising the risk that her child would suffer health complications. The Neely family was given the opportunity to back out of the adoption process, but, driven by their faith, they committed to care for their future child regardless of the health challenges he might face. When their son Jackson was born, he tested positive for drugs and required extensive treatment. However, after three weeks in an intensive care unit, the Neelys were able to take Jackson home to Southeastern Kentucky, where he is now recovering at a quick pace.

“It was a pleasure to be able to speak with the Neely family and hear their incredible story. They embody the love and selflessness that form the foundation of America’s adoption system and I am proud to have them represent Kentucky in the Angels in Adoption program,” said Senator McConnell. “One of my greatest privileges as a Senator is meeting with Kentuckians like the Neelys and helping them receive the recognition they deserve. I wish Jonathan, Caley, and Jackson the best as they continue to grow together as a family.”

“We are grateful for this nomination, to be a part of such an amazing adoption community, and for the Republican Leader’s compassion. We want to thank Republican Leader McConnell for his continued investment in the adoption community and his passion to highlight such a special moment in the life of our family,” said Jonathan Neely.

Angels in Adoption is a public awareness campaign by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Each year, Members of Congress can nominate constituents who are helping to improve the lives of children in need of a loving family.

For Kentucky families who may also need assistance with adoption, please contact the Senator’s office in Louisville at (502) 582-6304 or online: https://sen.gov/R4W4

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=61084178-130B-44D4-B85A-ADB443ADF21B,McConnell: Washington Democrats Ignoring Backlash to their Multi-Trillion-Dollar Nightmare,2021-11-06,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"LOUISVILLE, KY. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement after House Democrats voted to advance Washington Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree:

“It says everything about today’s Democratic Party that House Democrats held our country’s basic infrastructure hostage for months over a reckless taxing and spending spree that would hurt families and help China.

“The radical left refused to fund America’s roads and bridges unless they got to advance a multi-trillion-dollar nightmare that would make inflation even worse, hammer Americans with tax hikes, make us more dependent on less affordable energy, and let the same woke bureaucrats who don’t want parents involved in education extend their reach into infancy and early childhood. Clearly Washington Democrats have ignored the statement that voters made on Tuesday and may need to relearn the same lessons next year.

“President Biden can now sign the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure bill into law. Meanwhile, House Democrats just walked further down the plank for a far-left messaging document that nobody even pretends could pass the Senate or become law in its current form.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=5F6E7457-A818-4826-BFC9-4365E914F512,"McConnell, Grassley Call Out AG on Plan to Send Taxpayer-Funded Settlements to Illegal Immigrants",2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) yesterday pressed Attorney General Garland on reported the multi-million-dollar taxpayer give-away to illegal immigrants in the form of settlement agreements.

The Senators’ letter follows conflicting statements from President Biden, who said such payments are “not gonna happen,” and the ACLU, which later said, “President Biden may not have been fully briefed about the actions of his very own Justice Department ….”

“Do you intend to stand with the ACLU and go forward with these massive settlement payments? Or have you complied with President Biden’s instruction and decided to seek settlement amounts for illegal aliens that the White House finds more politically palatable?” the Senators wrote in a letter today to Garland.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Biden administration is considering settlement agreements of up to $450,000 for illegal immigrants affected by the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy, which could result in payouts of more than $1 million to families that violated immigration laws. McConnell and Grassley called such a plan “outrageous” and “offensive to the American people.”

Full text of today’s letter follows:

“Dear Attorney General Garland:

“Last week we read with great concern a report in the Wall Street Journal about the Justice Department trying to settle claims against the U.S. Government brought by illegal aliens whose families were separated under the prior administration’s zero-tolerance enforcement priorities.[1]

“Perhaps more troubling than the settlements themselves are the reports that the Justice Department is looking to settle these claims for $450,000 per individual. This could result in payouts that are over a million dollars per family because they entered our country illegally during the course of these enforcement priorities.

“It should not surprise you to learn that we find these reports outrageous. Any settlements to illegal aliens because they violated the law are wrong. These kinds of settlements are offensive to the American people.

“Interestingly, President Biden may agree with us. When asked about these reports yesterday at a press conference he seemed to deny them. When asked specifically if the U.S. Government would pay out $450,000 each to illegal aliens separated from their families by the last administration he replied, ‘Not gonna happen.’

“The ACLU, who represents many of the illegal-alien litigants, responded, ‘President Biden may not have been fully briefed about the actions of his very own Justice Department ….’[2] But it seems the ACLU may have spoken too soon, because in the wake of President Biden’s press conference the ACLU Executive Director said, ‘DOJ communicated Wednesday night that the numbers reported in the press are higher than anywhere that settlement can land.’[3]

“What’s going on? Do you intend to stand with the ACLU and go forward with these massive settlement payments? Or have you complied with President Biden’s instruction and decided to seek settlement amounts for illegal aliens that the White House finds more politically palatable?

“On one hand, the President said that his administration will not go forward with these settlements and the ACLU says the Department of Justice immediately complied. On the other hand, you have been adamant that the Department, under your leadership, will not take political orders from the White House concerning litigation and enforcement decisions.

“Are these settlements under consideration or are they not? And if your response would be that the Justice Department does not comment on ongoing settlement negotiations, we note that President Biden and the ACLU already have. Where is the Department of Justice?

“This matter demands clarification.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=B20787A7-3353-4056-9B8B-436358802E95,Leader McConnell Meets with General Joseph Aoun,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement after meeting with General Joseph Aoun, Chief of Defense of the Lebanese Armed Forces:

“I was glad to welcome General Aoun to the Capitol yesterday to discuss ongoing security cooperation efforts.

“Since the end of the Syrian occupation in 2005, the Lebanese Armed Forces have steadily worked to become a professional and reliable partner in counterterrorism. Today, as Lebanon faces growing economic, political, and security challenges, I especially appreciate the Defense Department’s close partnership with the LAF.

“This partnership is important to our shared interest in countering those who promote sectarianism, violence, and terror in an important region.

“I also expressed to General Aoun my expectation that the LAF will remain firmly on the side of Lebanon’s people as it seeks to provide security and secure Lebanon’s sovereignty, consistent with UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=51C5A279-A555-4C5F-A930-39ECA6C4A75C,"Democrats’ Energy Dependence Agenda Helps Russia and China, Hurts Americans",2021-11-04,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“President Biden spent much of the past week participating in a U.N. summit on the so-called Paris Climate Accords.

“The event was billed as a serious meeting of world leaders committed to taking action on climate policy. More than 1,000 VIPs arrived in a parade of no fewer than 400 private jets, a mode of transportation that some climate activists say is up to 14 times more polluting than commercial aviation.

“The topic of discussion was a bad deal that, after six years, has failed to hold any of its major signatories to their commitments on reducing emissions.

“But that hadn’t stopped President Biden from rejoining it.

“The President went as far as apologizing – apologizing – that the previous Administration had let the U.S. reduce its emissions from outside the deal. He pledged that, now, the United States, ‘will do our part.’

“Exactly what that means is not clear. The United States succeeded in cutting its emissions more from outside the Paris Deal than any major country managed from inside it.

“So President Biden apologized for outperforming the deal. And his counterparts welcomed America’s new commitment – to reduce U.S. emissions 50% by 2030 – without any specifics on achieving it.

“Now while America’s emissions have fallen, the world’s leading carbon emitter apparently has a free pass to keep on increasing its emissions until 2030.

“According to China’s own representatives, their massive and thriving economy is still in a, ‘special development stage.’

“We’re talking about a country that built more than three times as much new coal power capacity as the rest of the world combined in 2020.

“Meanwhile, one outside analysis indicates that getting America even close to net-zero emissions by 2050 would mean cutting our GDP by nearly 12% annually.

“That’s trillions of dollars shipped out of this country every year. Competitors like China are licking their chops.

“And what would this self-flagellation get us 39 years from now?

“According to that same outside analysis, based on the U.N.’s own model, this economic hemorrhage would purchase us a reduction of three tenths of one degree in global temperatures.

“Meanwhile, the same Washington Democrats who think this nightmare sounds like a good deal are pushing a reckless taxing and spending spree that would hammer American families and the affordable energy they need to power and heat their homes and drive their cars.

“After less than a year with Democrats in power, America has already more than doubled imports of Russian oil from December 2020 levels.

“Double the dependency on Russia in less than 12 months.

“America’s energy future, as imagined by our colleagues on the left.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-honors-day-and-day-feed-mill-columbia-kentucky-senate-small-business-week/,"Dr. Rand Paul Honors Day and Day Feed Mill of Columbia, Kentucky as Senate Small Business of the Week",2021-11-04,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 5, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Day and Day Feed Mill of Columbia, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Day and Day Feed Mill, a family-owned small business in Columbia, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In 1954, Garland Day established Day and Day Feed Mill in Columbia, Kentucky. Garland decided to meet the need for a local feed mill providing dairy and beef cattle feeds and supplies. A family-run business from the start, Garland’s sons, Allen and Bobby, took over Day and Day Feed Mill in the early 1960s. Continuing the family legacy, Garland’s grandsons, Anthony and Gary Day, along with their cousin Ray Brock, stepped up to lead the business in the 1990s. Together, they rebuilt and expanded the business in 2009, building their new location on the same spot as the original Day and Day Feed Mill.

Today, Day and Day Feed Mill continues to thrive as a farm supply store and feed retailer. The family-owned business celebrated its 67th anniversary in 2021, and is led by the third and fourth generation of Days. The full-service farm and ranch supply store plays a critical role in Adair County, providing everything from agro-chemicals and seeds to fishing and hunting supplies. Additionally, the store supports local Kentucky small businesses, selling hand-crafted goods and gifts. The Days’ strong sense of family has built a tight-knit, supportive team, with some families employed there for generations.

Like many small businesses, the Day family has consistently invested in and served their community. They regularly participate in local and regional events, ranging from agricultural fairs to hosting an annual customer appreciation event. Day and Day Feed Mill’s outstanding service and high-quality products have consistently earned them recognition from industry groups and community members alike. They were recognized as Business of the Year by the Adair County Cattlemen’s Association in 2012, and Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year in 2018 by the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce. For several years, Day and Day Feed Mill has consistently earned the Adair County Community Voice Readers’ Choice Award in several categories, including Best Agriculture Store, Best Sporting Goods/Hunting Store, and Best Customer Service. Over the past year, Day and Day Feed Mills adapted to the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and continued supporting local farmers as they kept the country fed.

Day and Day Feed Mill is a remarkable example of the critical role that small, family-oriented agricultural businesses play in rural communities. Small businesses, like Day and Day Feed Mill, form the heart of towns across Kentucky, and play a critical role in Kentucky’s agricultural industry. Congratulations to Anthony, Gary, Ray, and the entire team at Day and Day Feed Mill. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-you-wont-admit-its-dangerous-and-lack-judgment-i-think-its-time-you-resign/,"Dr. Rand Paul: “You won’t admit that it’s dangerous, and for that lack of judgment, I think it’s time that you resign.”",2021-11-04,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 4, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee continued to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) accountable on his repeated lies about the funding of gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Lab of Virology.

Below are excerpts from Dr. Paul’s questioning:

“You appear to have learned nothing from this pandemic…What you’re doing is defining away gain-of-function…and what you’ve done is change the definition on your website to try to cover your ass, basically.”

“Until you accept responsibility, we’re not going to get anywhere close to trying to prevent another lab leak of this dangerous sort of experiment. You won’t admit that it’s dangerous, and for that lack of judgment, I think it’s time that you resign.”

This was the first HELP Committee hearing with Dr. Fauci since the National Institutes of Health (NIH) admitted to funding EcoHealth Alliance’s risky virus enhancing research at the Wuhan Lab of Virology, despite Dr. Fauci’s testimony from May 11, July 20, and now today, stating the contrary.

You can watch Dr. Paul’s full questioning HERE, and read more about the NIH’s and Dr. Fauci’s lies in Dr. Paul’s Op-Ed published in Fox News HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=3336846B-D285-48E9-B5A2-194ADDF05AF7,"Hours After Losing at the Polls, Democrats Again Try a Washington Takeover of Voting Laws",2021-11-03,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding voting laws:

“Practically every single week, Senate Democrats make another attempt at grabbing new power over American elections.

“Remember, a giant partisan power grab over voting procedures in every county and state was Democrats’ ceremonial first priority of this whole Congress. They revealed their mission from the very start. That first proposal would have sent federal funds to political campaigns, overridden commonsense state rules like voter I.D., and even changed the Federal Elections Commission itself from a neutral referee into a partisan body.

“It was so bad that even the New York Times called it ‘a flawed bill’ that was ‘destined to fail.’ That’s exactly what happened in the Senate. But the Democrats tipped their hand right from the start. They gave away the whole game.

“So every time that Washington Democrats make a few changes around the margins and come back for more bites at the same apple, we know exactly what they are trying to do.

“Many of the go-nowhere bills that the Democratic Leader has used for political theater had Congress essentially appointing itself the Board of Elections on steroids for every county and state in America. Congress was going to micromanage elections to a degree with no precedent.

“Today’s episode in this ongoing series is only slightly different. Rather than congressional Democrats trying to grab all this power for themselves, they are instead trying to pull off the power grab on behalf of the Democratic Attorney General.

“Instead of Washington Democrats in the legislative branch seizing power over elections in this country, it’ll be Washington Democrats in the executive branch doing it.

“It’s a slightly different twist on the same concept… for the same partisan reasons… with the same basic problems.

“In order to let Attorney General Garland dictate voting procedures, Democrats want to overturn Supreme Court precedent. Our colleagues’ flimsy arguments keep losing in court, so they’re now trying to overturn the courts.

“When states cracked down on the absurd practice of ballot harvesting, Democrats ran to the courts claiming discrimination — and lost.

“When liberals wanted to kill voter I.D. laws — which are popular with majorities of Black Americans and Hispanic Americans, by the way — they ran to the courts and lost then too.

“When the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that one part of the 40-year-old Voting Rights Act needed updating, the radical left said the sky was falling and voter turnout would collapse.

“The opposite happened. Turnout in 2020 was the highest since the year 1900. In one recent poll, 94% of voters say voting is easy.

“Moreover, the Voting Rights Act is still in effect. The courts haven’t struck down the law. That is simply false. The Supreme Court simply ruled that there was no evidence supporting the continuation of 40-year-old practices that were designed in the mid-1960s to address the specific challenges of that time.

“There is nothing to suggest a sprawling federal takeover is necessary. Nationalizing our elections is just a multi-decade Democratic Party goal in constant search of a justification.

“Their rationales may change constantly, but their end goal never does.

“Americans don’t need Attorney General Garland ruling over their states’ and their counties’ elections any more than they need congressional Democrats doing it themselves.

“The Senate will reject this go-nowhere bill today like we’ve rejected every other piece of fruit from this same poisonous tree.

“This body has real business we should be tackling. The defense authorization bill is months behind schedule. The majority has been derelict in allowing bipartisan progress on appropriations. These are things we need to be doing.

“Every designed-to-fail political show vote comes at the expense of the things that we ought to be working on.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=A39DDDB1-7315-47BE-BFB0-C7F19A2278AE,The Voters Have Spoken: Democrats Should Drop Their Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree,2021-11-03,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Last night was a difficult evening for Democrats.

“The Democratic Party has wildly misread their mandate and let the radical left run the country.

“Local Democrats let teachers’ unions keep schools shut months longer than necessary and told parents they didn’t get a say in what their kids are learning.

“Washington Democrats have super-charged inflation, re-created welfare without work requirements, and made America significantly less energy independent.

“President Biden was only given a 50-50 Senate and a tiny majority in the House, but he decided to let the radical left run the country. Citizens wanted a return to normalcy but have gotten a never-ending series of government-created crises.

“The American people will not stand for this. That’s what voters told Democrats last night. The results from different parts of the country demonstrate this was in large part a referendum on national issues.

“Democrats should listen to the voters, drop their reckless taxing and spending spree, and stop trying to ram through a socialist transformation that the American people never asked for.

“The radical transformation that Democrats are writing behind closed doors would compound every mistake their party has made.

“Look at virtually any part of American families’ lives… and Democrats’ reckless taxing and spending spree would seize control of it and yank it way to the left.

“The same Democrats who don’t want parents involved in schools want to take over daycare and pre-K, crowd out faith-based and family providers, and put this vast new system under the control of the culture-warrior HHS Secretary who sued the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“The same Democrats who pretend to defend working families are dead-set on a massive tax cut that would overwhelmingly benefit rich people in blue states. One of the biggest pieces of their signature bill is now a huge tax cut for rich people.

“The same Democrats who say they support science and medicine want to slap arbitrary price controls on Americans’ prescription drugs, reducing future innovation and, according to experts, literally costing Americans their lives who would have lived if not for this policy.

“The same Democrats who pretend they care about Social Security and Medicare want to stretch seniors’ existing Medicare program even thinner, even though the trust fund is already just a few years from running dry, in order to fund new giveaways.

“The same Democrats who talk a big game about competing with China wanted to raise taxes so high that our own American industries would face a higher tax rate than businesses have to pay in Communist China.

“The same Democrats who are still trying to sneak forms of amnesty into this bill also want to make illegal immigrants eligible for the new welfare.

“The same Democrats who pretend they are forward-thinking on energy issues want to hammer the U.S. economy with painful regulations while bigger emitters like China just keep on emitting. Maximum pain for American families and no measurable gain for emissions or the climate.

“The bill our colleagues are writing behind closed doors is terrible from top to bottom. More debt, more taxes, and more inflation. Fewer options for American families.

“This reckless taxing and spending spree would hurt families and help China. This radical social takeover is the last thing Americans need and the last thing Americans want.

“The voters of America just gave our colleagues a preview of that fact last night. They should pull back from the brink while they can.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=B31560E8-E6BB-4948-BB0B-9CE19A65C518,McConnell: Democrats’ Latest Attempt to Federalize Elections Will Fail,2021-11-03,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding voting laws:

“This has become an almost-weekly routine: My friends on the other side trying to give Washington unprecedented power over how Americans vote. We don’t have an NDAA or an appropriations process, but we always have time for these stunts.

“In many of these bills, congressional Democrats propose to make themselves into a national Board of Elections. Today there’s a small difference: They want instead to hand that power to Attorney General Garland. Different branch of government; same bad idea.

“I just want to add one observation from last night. Governors’ races and state legislative seats weren’t the only things on the ballot.

“Yesterday, the deep blue state of New York had two of Democrats’ signature proposals for weaker elections on the ballot as ballot measures. Citizens got to vote on whether to open the door to two changes that politicians wanted: Same-day registration and no-excuse absentees.

“And as of the latest tally a few minutes ago, both proposals are losing. They are currently both losing about 60-40. Even in deep blue New York, citizens appear to be rejecting Democrats’ demands for weaker elections.

“So I think there’s only one question left: Where will the Mets and the Yankees end up now? Surely Major League Baseball can’t let them stay in New York after this.

“I urge a ‘no’ vote and I yield the floor.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=08BD1DCE-0D5E-4E04-925F-360427FE7C7B,Senate Democrats Neglecting Critical Defense Legislation as Growing Threats Challenge America,2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security:

“Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act represents the Senate’s most consequential opportunity to help steer the course of defense and security policy.

“It’s our chance to lay out our priorities for keeping America safe. For the past 60 years, without exception, Senate majorities have done the job and passed this crucial bill on a bipartisan vote.

“But this year, our Democratic majority is sleepwalking toward yet another preventable problem.

“The process began with earnest deliberation among our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee.

“Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe presided over extensive discussions. They adopted 143 bipartisan amendments. And the Committee reported out a final bill by a margin of 23-3.

“Our colleagues began a process that should be end with broad support for clear, bipartisan priorities — like equipping us to keep up with China’s military modernization and combat a new generation of terrorist threats.

“But the Democratic Leader has left the NDAA trapped in limbo while Democrats toy with another reckless taxing and spending spree.

“Mr. President, neglecting the NDAA denies our Armed Forces the certainty they need, and it denies the Senate a debate about the most consequential national security issues.

“This is especially misguided in light of the Biden Administration’s erratic, rudderless approach to foreign policy.

“Just last week, Administration officials acknowledged that hundreds more Americans than they initially claimed remain trapped in Afghanistan… That terrorists in the country are just months away from being capable of conducting attacks on U.S. soil… And that no basing agreements to allow for “over-the-horizon” operations had yet been reached.

“Emboldened terrorists are already stepping up violence against Americans and our allies in the Middle East.

“The Administration is failing to deter Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

“The Russian threat has grown since President Biden took office — though you wouldn’t know it by how quiet Senate Democrats have been on the subject.

“Putin is committed to modernizing his military to threaten U.S. and NATO forces, weaponizing his country’s energy resources to pressure Europe, and escalating Russia’s military pressure on Ukraine.

“Of course, the American military, American industries, and our allies and partners are also facing a Communist China that’s hell-bent on dominating trade and repressing dissent.

“This is not a regional threat, but a global one. China’s comprehensive military modernization is stunning in its scope. The PRC is building weapons and capabilities to target U.S. forces at greater and greater range.

“We ignore this growing threat at our peril.

“So there is never a good time for Congress to abdicate its role in guiding and overseeing national security policy.

“But the Biden Administration’s muddled mess of a foreign policy makes this an especially terrible time for the Senate Democratic majority to neglect these issues.

“Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe have given us an opportunity to fulfill the Senate’s role in a serious, consequential way.

“Now the majority needs to let the Senate work.

“We need the kind of serious and rigorous floor process that the NDAA deserves.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=BD0996EA-37F3-4C4D-BAC8-8563E89935B1,Washington Democrats Want a Blank Check to Take Over American Childcare,2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“Since the earliest days of COVID-19, Washington Democrats have admitted they want to use the pandemic as a pretext to permanently transform our country. They hope to use the temporary crisis as a Trojan horse for permanent radical changes.

“One of their massive, ideological goals is a huge series of disruptive changes to American families’ childcare.

“Across our country, the political left is openly arguing that parents should be less involved in their own kids’ educations. That government should have more control over America’s children and their own parents should have less.

“And now, the same Democratic Party’s reckless taxing and spending spree would upend daycare, childcare, and pre-K as American families know it.

“The story is like Democrats’ long march toward socialized medicine: Take an intimate area of American life; pile on a maze of new mandates, regulations, cost increases, and subsidies; and push families out of the driver’s seat so Washington can run their lives.

“Not too long ago, the Democrats’ promise that if you like your health care plan, you can keep it was awarded the ‘lie of the year.’ Now they want a sequel: If you like your childcare, you can keep your childcare.

“Democrats want to sweep the first five years of children’s lives into a new set of top-down, one-size-fits-all, Washington-knows-best regulations.

“Their Big Government scheme would make childcare more expensive, then use taxpayer money to subsidize only some families — those who structure their arrangements in ways that Democrats like.

“Other families would be left to fend for themselves, now in an even more inflated market.

“Their bill would give Democrats and bureaucrats massive new authority they could use to shape curricula and standards nationwide. If providers don’t play along, they could be left out in the cold.

“The Biden Administration wants to insert itself into the most intimate family decisions and tell parents how to care for their toddlers.

“The entire scheme violates the basic principle of family fairness.

“Speaker Pelosi suggested last week that she approves of one kind of family structure — ‘parents earning and children learning.’ She said Democrats want government programs to ‘liberat[e]’ families so that both parents work full-time.

“Well, lots of families like that model, Mr. President. But other families prefer other models. Not everybody defines ‘liberation’ the same way. Yet Washington Democrats want Big Government to bless certain family arrangements and not others.

“Has your family made a different set of sacrifices so a father or mother can parent full-time? Sorry, Democrats want to redistribute money away from your family to other households that may earn more money.

“Has your family built its whole life around a plan for a grandparent to provide in-home care? Too bad — Grandma or Grandpa might have to fill out paperwork and apply for the bureaucrats’ blessing, or that family could be denied help also.

“Democrats could easily end up taxing working-class families with a full-time parent in order to subsidize the arrangements of wealthier two-income households.

“They are steamrolling over family fairness, over families’ choices and options, over the diversity of American families and their aspirations.

“And by the way, Democrats appear to want change the law in ways that could force faith-based providers to put aside sincerely-held religious beliefs.

“Just look at who would be administering all this, Mr. President.

“One key player would be the HHS Secretary, Secretary Becerra — the partisan California lawyer who got famous by suing Catholic nuns for being too Catholic and crisis pregnancy centers for being pro-life. A hardcore culture warrior.

“And this person is going to be the new national czar for early childhood?

“Another key figure would be Secretary Cardona. You may recall that, a few months back, Senate Republicans had to stop our Education Secretary from diverting funding for civics education toward woke propaganda that had been debunked by historians.

“And this is the same Biden Administration whose Attorney General just wrote an entire memo singling out concerned parents who speak up at their local school board meetings.

“Now they want to extend their federal control over babies and toddlers, too.

“Finally, get this, Mr. President. This tangled new entitlement would be so mind-bogglingly expensive that Democrats can’t even put a long-term dollar amount on it.

“The estimate is that all this government meddling will cost $400 billion over just the first several years. After that, nobody knows what the blank check will add up to!

“Taxpayers are supposed to pony up a blank check for the privilege of having less control over family choices?

“I think the American people will take a pass.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-introduces-legislation-repeal-national-patient-id-protect-americans-medical-0/,"Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Legislation to Repeal National Patient ID, Protect Americans’ Medical Privacy",2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 2, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the National Patient ID Repeal Act to overturn a dangerous provision of existing law requiring the creation of a “unique health identifier,” also known as a National Patient ID.

U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As a physician, I know firsthand how much the doctor-patient relationship relies on trust and privacy, which would be undermined by a National Patient ID. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to protect Americans’ genetic information from theft by foreign actors like China, and prevent the government from centralizing patients’ personal health records or interfering with their medical decisions,” said Dr. Paul.

“The federal government has no right to dictate individual medical decisions or gain access to your private medical records,” said Sen. Blackburn. “The existing National Patient ID sets a dangerous precedent for Big Brother to exert even more control over your life, and it is paramount that we prevent the Biden administration from creating it.”

“We thank Sen. Rand Paul for his hard work as a champion against a national patient ID system. Our FreedomWorks community values patient privacy, that’s why we named the National Patient Identifier Repeal Act as our October 2020 Bill of the Month. We urge the House and Senate to consider this legislation and provide a permanent fix to a bipartisan issue that Congress has supported for over two decades,” said Adam Brandon, President of FreedomWorks.

Background:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) established the statutory authority to create a unique health identifier, a distinct ID code to identify the medical records of every individual, employer, health plan, and health care provider in America.

Dr. Paul’s father, former Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), introduced language to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill in 1998 to restrict the use of federal funds to develop the identifier, and such a ban has been continually renewed in each Labor-HHS appropriations bill since then.

Earlier this year, however, House and Senate appropriators stripped this critical protection for Americans out of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. Enacting the bill into law in its current form would open the floodgates for a government-issued ID to be linked with the private medical history of every man, woman, and child in America.

Prior to introducing standalone legislation to repeal the original authority created under HIPAA, Dr. Paul advocated in a letter to Senate appropriators to keep language banning federal funding for the unique health identifier in the proposed Senate version of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill.

You can read Dr. Paul’s National Patient ID Repeal Act, HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2BCD46C2-69C1-4C35-8C7B-829B721A4EF3,Biden Administration Reportedly Planning to Pay Out Millions to Illegal Immigrants,2021-11-01,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“The American people are hurting. Inflation just hit another 30-year record high. Families are paying skyrocketing prices for everyday needs. The murder rate across our country just recorded its biggest jump ever.

“But here’s what the Biden Administration is focused on: Handing out six-figure and seven-figure payments to illegal immigrants.

“A few years back, liberal interest groups started trying to sue the United States government on behalf of illegal immigrants. They want American taxpayers to pay out legal damages because of the conditions some people faced as they tried to break into our country illegally.

“As a legal matter, these lawsuits were borderline frivolous. Our government was all but certain to win them. But this Administration wants to stand down and voluntarily pay out massive damages.

“‘The U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services are considering payments that could amount to close to $1 million a family.’

“A million dollars per family, Madam President. About half a million dollars per adult; about half a million dollars more per child.

“American families are having to anxiously budget for gas and groceries, but President Biden wants to literally make millionaires out of people who have violated federal law.

“What could be more unfair and unjust to law-abiding, tax-paying American citizens?

“And talk about yet another massive incentive for more and more people to come here illegally.

“On President Biden’s watch, we have already seen an all-time high in illegal border crossings… combined with a decade low in arrests in the interior. Democrats have already created a major border crisis.

“And now they want to cut seven-figure checks to illegal border crossers.

“Democrats are already trying to send monthly welfare payments to people here illegally. That’s in the reckless taxing and spending spree they are putting together behind closed doors.

“But who needs $300 a month when President Biden wants to send these folks $450,000 per person?!

“That is four and a half times the payment that the Department of Defense sends to survivors of servicemembers who are killed in action. Fallen troops’ families get $100,000 from the Pentagon but the Biden Administration wants to give illegal immigrants $450,000.

“This is an especially extreme example of a big error that Democrats make over and over again.

“The left mistakenly thinks that a compassionate border means a weak border.

“They think compassion requires weakness — weak security, weak enforcement, weak on upholding the rule of law. And now, apparently, we’re a cruel country unless we hand out a million dollars per family to illegal immigrants who sue America.

“But the entire concept is dead wrong. It is not compassionate to lure people from all over the world through dangerous journeys with the promise of open-borders socialism.

“In fact, the government paying out six-figure sums that multiply with every additional child in tow will only incentivize the riskiest and most dangerous kinds of illegal immigration. We will be guaranteeing that even more children are dragged along the dangerous journey.

“Honestly, this absurd idea feels like a satirical policy proposal that Republicans would have invented to make a parody out of the radical left. Oh, and the next thing you know, they’ll be sending out million-dollar checks to illegal immigrants!

“But this is literally what the Biden Administration wants to do — according to reports they have not denied.

“Out in the real world, American families already have enough reasons to worry about the Administration’s spending habits.

“The inflation kicked off by Democrats’ springtime binge has wiped out wage gains and made family budgets even harder to square.

“One recent report on soaring food prices included this quote from a shopper in Indiana: ‘You have to pick and choose. Before, you didn’t have to do that. You could just go in and buy a week or two’s worth of food. Now, I can barely buy a week’s worth.’

“That’s a sobering reality that too many Americans are dealing with. And it isn’t limited to the grocery store.

“Folks in my hometown of Louisville have seen gas prices jump a full dollar in the past year.

“Feeding a family is getting harder. Filling up the tank is getting harder. Even heating a home this winter is shaping up to be 30% more expensive than last year.

“Even during a time of calm and prosperity, writing million-dollar checks to illegal immigrants would be an insult to American families.

“But it’s 10 times more insulting at a time like this, when Democrats’ policies are forcing so many households to tighten their belts.

“These are the same Democrats who are putting the finishing touches on yet another multi-trillion-dollar reckless taxing and spending spree.

“So in the days and weeks ahead, when the far left tries to sell America on historic inflationary spending, historic tax hikes, and more micromanaging of American life by politicians… just remember… these are the same politicians who have proposed giving millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to people who broke federal law to enter the country.

“The same people who think that’s a great idea want license to transform the entire economy.

“Look around. I’m not sure how much more of this transformation American families can stomach.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=B6DD5728-AB35-4FAA-9DFF-273AA418D1CC,McConnell on Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon’s Retirement Announcement,2021-11-01,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement on Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon’s retirement announcement:

“I congratulate Mike on his nearly three decades of service and wish him the best on a well-earned retirement at the end of his term. Mike has been a key player in Kentucky’s development over the past twenty-seven years, overseeing his county’s explosive growth by bringing jobs, businesses, and new residents to the area. Through his leadership, Bowling Green has become the central pillar of one of Kentucky’s most dynamic regions.

“Over seven terms, Mike has cultivated a wide array of initiatives to benefit his constituents, showcasing a deep, diverse understanding of good governance. Through business development programs, he has recruited top employers to Bowling Green. Through an enhanced parks system and improved performing arts, he has made Warren County even more appealing to new residents. Through new rural broadband efforts and his strong leadership throughout the pandemic, he has ensured that his constituents will be ready for the challenges of the twenty-first century.

“I applaud Mike for his outstanding career in public service and wish him the best as he prepares to take a step back to spend more time with his family. I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes when he turns the page onto a new chapter of life.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-paul-rep-comer-send-letter-director-nih-requesting-information-removal-gain-function-nih/,"Dr. Paul, Rep. Comer Send Letter to Director of the NIH Requesting Information on the Removal of “Gain-of-Function” from the NIH Website",2021-11-01,2021,2021-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 1, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Representative James Comer (R-KY-1) sent a letter to Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requesting information on an update made to the NIH website on October 20, 2021. The update removed a section on the website titled “Gain-of-Function Research,” which defined gain-of-function research as “a type of research that modifies a biological agent so that it confers new or enhanced activity to that agent.” This website change followed a October 20th letter from the NIH to Rep. James Comer acknowledging that NIH funds were sub-awarded to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to study bat coronaviruses.

You can read the full letter, HERE or below.

Dear Dr. Collins:

We write to request the following information about an update made to the website of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on or about October 20, 2021.

Do you acknowledge that the page previously titled “Gain-of-Function Research Involving Potential Pandemic Pathogens” (archived here: https://web.archive.org/web/20211019065407/https://www.nih.gov/news-events/gain-function-research-involving-potential-pandemic-pathogens) was changed on or about October 20, 2021 to remove the phrase “Gain-of-Function” from the page heading?

Do you acknowledge that the information provided on the web page identified above was altered, and that among the alterations was the removal of a section with the heading “Gain-of-Function Research,” which defined gain-of-function research as “a type of research that modifies a biological agent so that it confers new or enhanced activity to that agent”?

Was the decision to remove the section of the NIH website entitled “Gain-of-Function Research” on or about October 20, 2021, motivated by, or in any way related to, the October 20, 2021 letter from NIH to Rep. James Comer in which Principal Deputy Director Lawrence Tabak acknowledged that NIH funds were sub-awarded to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to study bat coronaviruses?

Please provide the name(s) and title(s) of each official within the NIH or elsewhere in the U.S. government who authorized the changes to the NIH website noted above.

Please provide any and all internal communications regarding the changes noted above to the NIH website on or about October 20, 2021.

Please provide a detailed explanation of the reason or reasons for making the changes noted above to the NIH website on or about October 20, 2021.

We look forward to your timely response.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-leads-six-senator-letter-dr-fauci-about-cruel-puppy-experimentation-he-funded/,Dr. Rand Paul Leads Six-Senator Letter to Dr. Fauci about Cruel Puppy Experimentation He Funded Through NIAID,2021-10-29,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 29, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), along with U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Susan Collins (R-ME), sent a letter requesting further information about the cruel and inhumane experiments conducted on beagle puppies under the supervision of Dr. Anthony Fauci and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which involved severing the puppies’ vocal cords so they were unable to bark.

“Dr. Fauci, we write to express deep concern about recent reports of inhumane experiments on beagle puppies conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the cost to taxpayers of $1.68 million,” said Dr. Paul and the Senators. “Even more troubling, this testing appears to have been elective on the part of NIAID, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it ‘does not mandate that human drugs be studied in dogs.'”

You can read the full letter HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=00B9270F-4D4E-4AE4-B102-1E703D02987B,"Murders Spiking, Border in Crisis, But Biden DOJ Targets Parents",2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the rule of law:

“Yesterday brought reports that carjackings in my hometown of Louisville were up 150% since 2019. And the city’s 2021 murder total is rapidly closing in on the all-time record we just set last year.

“These aren’t just local problems. They’re national trends. 2020 saw the U.S. homicide rate jump more than at any point in over a century. The worst spike in the murder rate in more than 100 years.

“The law enforcement crises don’t stop there. Our southern border saw more illegal crossings last year than in any year on record, yet ICE has made its fewest interior arrests in a decade.

“A crime epidemic and a border crisis. These are the sort of problems you might expect the nation’s top law enforcement officer to face head-on. These are the sort of issues that should keep the Department of Justice up all night.

“But Attorney General Garland has other priorities.

“The AG made waves this month with a bizarre memo that directed the FBI and along with the DOJ’s Criminal, National Security, and Civil Rights divisions to focus special attention and scrutiny on parents who have opinions about their local school boards.

“Yesterday, under questioning from the Judiciary Committee, the Attorney General seemed incapable of giving a satisfactory explanation as to why the parents of America are his A-1 priority.

“Nor could he explain why his bizarre guidance came just days after a powerful interest group sent a letter demanding this action.

“Actually, the interest group has already apologized for that letter. They say they regret sending it. But the Attorney General won’t budge from his shocking guidance even after the special interests that asked for it have backed away! Apparently, the instant that special interests ask the Biden Administration to jump, this Attorney General responds ‘How high?’

“The Attorney General insisted that all his Department is concerned about is, ‘violence and threats of violence.’ Of course violence and threats are always wrong. They are also already illegal, and already the purview of local law enforcement.

“There is no evidence that America’s concerned parents needed to be singled out as targets of this J. Edgar Hoover act from the feds.

“If Democrats at the local, state, and federal levels want fewer concerned parents showing up at school board meetings, the solution is to stop indoctrinating their kids with crazy messages on the taxpayers’ dime.

“Not trying to use federal law enforcement to frighten families out of their First Amendment rights.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=900FEA51-6646-4A0C-A120-F600F2562A00,Democrats’ Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree Designed to Reduce Employment and Undermine Work,2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“In recent years, Washington Democrats have shown an alarming willingness to invent crises to justify radical ideas.

“They’ve tried to vilify our independent judiciary and exhume the concept of court-packing from the ash heap of history.

“They’ve tried to sell a 50-state federal takeover of election laws by fearmongering about mainstream and reasonable state decisions.

“And when it came to an actual crisis – a once-in-a-century pandemic – Democrats didn’t even try to conceal their intentions. As the House Majority Whip put it back in March of 2020, it was all, ‘a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.’

“With unified control of government, they bragged this spring about passing the most progressive legislation in American history.

“This first spending spree expanded federal supplements to unemployment insurance so massively that the best choice for huge numbers of skilled American workers was to simply stay home.

“The whole thing was an avalanche of cash that stunted our economic recovery and accelerated inflation.

“Now Washington Democrats are behind closed doors again, assembling an even bigger reckless taxing and spending spree.

“It’s meant to be a Trojan horse for permanent socialism. Conclusive proof the radical left is calling the shots in today’s Democratic Party.

“I’ve talked about the laundry list of left-wing boondoggles that our colleagues are packing into this plan. At the heart of it all is one simple and dangerous assumption: that American families ought to be more reliant on the federal government.

“Democrats’ plans would chase more Americans off of the private health insurance plans they’ve chosen and onto government rolls.

“They would shred a decades-old consensus about the importance of work and massively expand cash grants to families without any employment requirements.

“They want to re-implement welfare without welfare reform.

“There is giveaway after giveaway that aren’t even means-tested. Their plans have literally proposed to have taxpayers fund free school lunch for the kids of millionaires and billionaires — no means testing whatsoever.

“In addition, Washington Democrats want to insert themselves into the middle of the most personal family decisions about childcare and family structure, redistributing huge amounts of money only to households that arrange their lives the way Democrats want.

“In area after area, Democrats want to implement far-left policies that would make the economy worse for working families, but then clumsily try to make it up to citizens with socialism that’s disconnected from work.

“This is a frontal assault on the nature of employment and work itself in American life. They are out to, as one economist put it, ‘fundamentally change the relationship between the state and its citizens.’

“Even the New York Times last month called what Democrats are hammering out ‘a cradle-to-grave reweaving’ of the government’s role.

“Lower wages… Fewer jobs… At least American workers will have cradle-to-grave socialism.

“It’s one vision for the future, all right.

“But it’s not one that Americans want.

“And it’s one that Senate Republicans will fight at every step.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=CE771163-CC0D-488C-A4D9-5BCEF05382B8,ICYMI: Leader McConnell on ‘Kudlow’,2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business’ ‘Kudlow’ this afternoon. See below for highlights or click here to watch the full interview:

On Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spending Spree:

“Take a quick look back to the 2017 tax bill. As we all predicted, lowering corporate rates, for example, creates a gusher of corporate tax revenue. We cut rates, revenue went up. In February of 2020, right before the pandemic hit, we had the best economy in 50 years. I rest my case. The 2017 tax bill worked for America. Now, obviously they want to undo all of that. They have already created a lot of harm this year with the previous $2 trillion package they passed earlier this year without a single Republican vote. It created raging inflation, which Larry Summers, the last honest Democrat in town, predicted it was going to happen. [He is] still in an argument with the Treasury Secretary over it. Raging inflation and people don't want to go back to work because of what they’ve done already.

“The best way to sum up the impact of this package: If the Democrats pass it, and of course it will be all by themselves, they’ll double down on all of the mistakes they have already made this year. The only way to stop it since it can be done one party only, is Joe Manchin, Krysten Sinema, the two most important Democrats in the Senate, have the ability to kill the whole package – to dramatically reduce the size of it. I’m praying for them every night. No Republicans will join up this effort to further exacerbate the mistakes that have been made earlier this year by this new Democratic government.”

On Democrats’ Partisan Framework:

“None of us are going to support this. This is not a result of any kind of bipartisan negotiation. We're making it at least hard for them by preventing them from calling this bipartisan… No matter what form this ultimately takes, it is a dramatic step in the wrong direction. Doubling down on what they have done earlier this year, which has already created massive unemployment, at least massive reluctance to go back to work, and raging inflation… My assumption is this framework will, at some point in the coming weeks, turn into a real bill. Right now it is kind of a talking point and we haven't seen the [final] language yet. My assumption, is, it is still under discussion among Democrats. I’m not even sure they agreed to the framework.”

On IRS Snooping Provisions:

“It may be alive with the Democrats but it is not alive in the country. We are getting massive communications from our constituents all across America. They don't want the IRS snooping into their bank accounts for routine transactions. One huge mistake among many that look like they could end up in a final bill, if they ever get to a final bill.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-honors-hinton-mills-flemingsburg-kentucky-senate-small-business-week/,"Dr. Rand Paul Honors Hinton Mills of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, as Senate Small Business of the Week",2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 29, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Hinton Mills of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a family-owned small business and beloved eastern Kentucky staple, Hinton Mills of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In 1918, Frank L. Hinton and his wife, Ellora, established Hinton Mills in Goddard, Kentucky. The general store, which provided supplies for local farmers, moved down the road to Plummers Landing in 1923. After serving in World War II, their son, Frank O. Hinton, returned to run the family business together with his wife, Maxine. Frank O., who had a passion for raising livestock, added a feed mill in 1956. By 1977, Hinton Mills had added locations in Flemingsburg, Ewing, and May’s Lick, primarily serving local dairy operations and tobacco farmers. A fifth location opened in Cynthiana in 2015, enabling Hinton Mills to serve northern and eastern Kentucky.

Today, Hinton Mills continues to thrive as a farm supply store and feed retailer. The family-owned business celebrated its 103rd anniversary in 2021, and is led by the third and fourth generations of Hintons. Family members serve in a number of roles, including Frank O.’s son, Bud Hinton, as President, and Bud’s son, Adam Hinton, as Vice President. Led by the ethos of “Faith, Family, Friends, and Farming,” Hinton Mills has grown along with the surrounding area. Their strong sense of family has built a tight-knit, supportive team, with some families employed there for generations. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Kentucky Gateway Museum Center hosted an exhibit in 2018 to recognize Hinton Mills and their impact on the agricultural community of Eastern Kentucky.

Over the past hundred years, the Hinton family has consistently invested in and served their community. They regularly participate in local and regional events, ranging from agricultural fairs and the annual Fleming County FFA Tractor Parade, to hosting their annual week-long Seed Day customer appreciation event. Hinton Mills champions Kentucky’s agriculture industry, advocating for small agricultural businesses at the local, state, and national level. They are a part of several local business and industry groups, including the Fleming County Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Retail Federation. Notably, Adam has served on the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, the Kentucky Retail Federation Board of Directors, and the Kentucky FFA Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Like many small businesses, Hinton Mills rallied to face the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and adapted to continue supporting local farmers as they kept the country fed.

Hinton Mills is a remarkable example of the resilience and adaptability of locally-owned small businesses. Small businesses, like Hinton Mills, form the heart of towns across Kentucky, and play a critical role in Kentucky’s agricultural industry. Congratulations to Bud, Adam, and the entire team at Hinton Mills. I wish them the best of luck, and I look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=576CACB7-C43A-4726-8602-4CD704F04667,Democrats’ Energy Agenda Puts Foreign Leaders’ Applause Ahead of American Families,2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“In a few days, President Biden is set to gas up Air Force One and jet to Scotland for a global conference about the climate.

“According to press coverage, the President’s agenda is clear:

“‘Biden Wants to Show World He’s Serious About Cutting Emissions.’ ‘Joe Biden Gets Real On Climate Change.’

“We’re talking about a meeting… to review a plan… that failed to get its own signatories to meet its unenforceable ‘commitments.’

“A deal that couldn’t compel the world’s largest carbon producer, China, to commit to any less than another nine years of rising emissions before it starts to turn things around. This is a country with single companies that emit more carbon than nations the size of Canada.

“And all the while, the United States, from outside the deal, cut our emissions more than any major country inside the deal.

“The Biden Administration is desperately chasing bad deals to win applause from foreign leaders. That’s what this is about. Signing the American people up for self-inflicted pain for no meaningful gain.

“The only thing that’s serious about President Biden’s environmental agenda is the trouble it’s already causing here at home.

“Our adversaries like Russia are salivating over big windfalls while working American families are feeling the pain.

“Remember, on day one, this Administration put a freeze on crucial development of domestic energy and killed the Keystone XL pipeline — along with over a thousand jobs.

“Combined with Democrats’ flood of inflationary spending, it’s no wonder that consumers are facing the highest prices at the pump in seven years…

“The most expensive home heating forecast in more than twelve years… And soaring prices on the household goods that are costing U.S. manufacturers more to make.

“But wait, there’s more. When President Biden jets off to next week’s summit, his fellow Democrats will be busy plotting yet another reckless taxing and spending spree that would compound the pain with more anti-energy policies.

“They want to create new taxes on the most affordable and reliable forms of American energy that would put producers out of business, workers out of jobs, and make home heating even pricier this winter.

“They want to put billions more into ‘environmental and social justice block grants,’ whatever that means. They want to subsidize the favorite products of blue-state elites, like electric cars and even electric bicycles.

“Democrats also want to pour billions of dollars into a made-up government work program they’re calling the ‘Civilian Climate Corps.’

“This is pure socialist wish-fulfillment. We’ve already got a worker shortage and record numbers of open jobs, but Democrats want taxpayers to put aside $8 billion for make-work programs for young liberal activists that they admit ‘[wouldn’t] measurably reduce emissions.’

“And under their latest batch of proposed regulations, states that fail to keep pace with heavy-handed emissions targets would face ‘consequences’ — like freezes on funds for major transportation projects that employ lots of American workers. They want to bully every state to become more and more like California.

“Washington Democrats are plowing ahead with all this precisely as the Ghost of Christmas Future is providing us with a cautionary tale from across the Atlantic.

“Across Europe, natural gas prices have jumped 400% since the start of the year. Countries are scrambling to rediscover and reactivate the reliable systems they’d left behind to follow the latest fads.

“Thanks in part to the Biden Administration’s own inaction, Putin’s Russia has turned its controlling share of Europe’s gas production into a political weapon.

“But instead of heeding this cautionary tale, President Biden seems to want to follow suit.

“His regulations have squandered the energy independence we enjoyed before he took office. U.S. imports of Russian oil have doubled. As gas prices soar, his Administration is reportedly asking OPEC to cut us some slack.

“As one academic summed it up, ‘Biden policy promotes a multiyear, multitrillion-dollar windfall’ for adversaries like Russia.

“‘To raise energy prices while enabling Moscow to tighten its grip over Europe’s energy supply is to turbocharge a Russian regime that was staggering and showing its age.’

“Pain for the American people. Payoffs for our adversaries. So that President Biden can receive cheers from the crowd in Glasgow.

“Small comfort for his own citizens.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=C802F7E8-6C02-49C5-938D-DBAE0092A2BB,McConnell: Biden Administration Needs to Get Serious About Our National Security,2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security:

“The President’s retreat from Afghanistan continues to have dangerous and disastrous consequences.

“Yesterday, one Pentagon official gave Senators a new estimate of how many Americans the Administration had left behind. The count Secretary Austin claimed last month was less than 100 has now risen to nearly 450.

“The Biden Administration spent weeks insisting they only left about 100 Americans behind in Afghanistan when the truth was multiple times that.

“The Administration has also continued to fail to keep its promises to brave Afghan allies.

“Meanwhile, as many warned, the terrorist threat is growing in the wake of our retreat. The same Pentagon official acknowledged that Afghanistan-based ISIS-K and Al Qaeda terrorists have the intent, and are acquiring the capability, to strike the United States.

“ISIS-K could threaten our homeland in as little as six months. And the Biden Administration still doesn’t have basing or access agreements in neighboring countries for it supposed plan to hit terrorists from ‘over the horizon.’

“No wonder our adversaries are testing this President’s resolve to protect American personnel and American interests.

“A complex attack against U.S. forces in Syria last week may well have been carried out at the behest of Iran.

“The Administration isn’t saying. They need to come clean about who was responsible and how they intend to respond.

“We know Tehran badly wants the U.S. and its partners out of Syria and Iraq, and to continue to threaten Israel and other U.S. partners. What we don’t know is what the Biden Administration plans to do about it.

“Even where progress should be easy, this Administration finds ways to mess things up.

“For example, there’s strong bipartisan agreement about the threat the People’s Republic of China poses to international security and specifically to American interests.

“Case in point: Beijing’s recent publicly-reported efforts to test hypersonic weapons and advance their nuclear capabilities. China’s also dramatically expanding the naval capabilities that they openly use to harass other nations.

“Both Republicans and Democrats would welcome a clear and coherent China strategy from this Administration. But all we are getting is a muddled mess.

“A few days ago, no sooner did President Biden offer comments on his own Taiwan policy then White House staff rapidly walked them back.

“Who’s in charge over there? The President or the Press Secretary?

“American Administrations have a tradition of handling Taiwan with something called ‘strategic ambiguity.’ I’m afraid the Biden team is taking that a little too literally. Even they themselves seem to have no idea what they are doing.

“President Biden likes to say something like: ‘Show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you value.’

“But President Biden’s own request for the defense budget didn’t even keep up with President Biden’s inflation.

“This White House proposed to cut defense funding after inflation.

“And here in the Senate, Democrats’ partisan appropriations process seeks to shortchange defense in favor of runaway domestic spending.

“Even their ostensibly China-focused bill from earlier this year would not have included any funding for the kinds of advanced defense capabilities that we need to keep pace if it weren’t for an amendment offered by Senator Sasse.

“Even the NDAA is stuck in limbo.

“The defense authorization bill is our most basic opportunity to shape security policy. It is a core duty for a Senate majority. The bare minimum.

“But Democrats have completely neglected the NDAA and the traditional, robust, and real floor process that it will need. They’re too busy debating how much socialism to unleash on the country to look out for our troops, our veterans, and our national security.

“This unseriousness will leave Americans less safe.

“It is just that simple.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-introduces-tax-free-education-act-help-americans-pay-and-pay-their-student-loan/,Dr. Rand Paul Introduces the Tax-Free Education Act to Help Americans Pay For and Pay Off their Student Loan Debt,2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 28, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Tax-Free Education Act to provide a 100 percent tax deduction to anyone who pays for college or K-12 tuition and associated expenses. This legislation is a pro-taxpayer plan to help Americans more quickly and easily pay off their student loan debt or avoid it all together.

“Financing education is already hard enough, and Uncle Sam doesn’t need a cut,” said Dr. Paul. “My plan allows people to pay for college with pre-tax dollars and would be available to anyone who is helping pay for college – grandparents, aunts and uncles, and family friends. This empowers the American people to pay off school debt and realize the dreams they studied hard to achieve.”

“Dr. Paul’s bill would help make education more affordable for students and families to attend the school of their choice, from Kindergarten through college,” said Dr. OJ Oleka, President of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU). “It also creates a 100 percent return on investment for students and families who pursue the transformative opportunity that a quality education can provide. I’m thrilled to support this commonsense legislation that aims at putting students first.

Under Dr. Paul’s legislation, every American could write off 100 percent of tuition and related expenses for college and K-12 education each year. It also allows these provisions to apply to students’ support systems who might be assisting in paying for college.

You can read the Tax-Free Education Act, HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=04A6B410-BD4E-4DF9-9112-4BE82734B629,McConnell Comments on the Passing of Nancy Mitchell,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"LOUISVILLE, KY -- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of Nancy Mitchell of Corbin, Kentucky:

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Nancy Mitchell, a friend of mine who left an incredible impact on her Southeastern Kentucky home. Nancy was a pioneer, becoming among the first women to serve in leadership roles in her community, including as Corbin’s first female city commissioner and vice mayor. She brought business savvy and tenacity to everything she did, and I know Knox County will miss her dearly.

“I had the opportunity to know Nancy during her long career and was always struck by her boundless energy. Alongside founding her own small business, she volunteered with the Kiwanis, served in city government, led civic groups, and helped organize area Republicans. Few people find the time to do just one of these great things; she did them all.

“The only thing that eclipsed Nancy’s love for public service was her devotion to her family. Alongside her husband Bob, Nancy raised two great daughters, Stephanie and Jenny, and was a loving Nana to four grandchildren. Elaine and I share our deepest condolences with the Mitchell family and will hold them in our prayers.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2D6464E0-5841-47BD-A5C3-99F123A7841A,President Biden’s Border Crisis: Record-High Crossings and Decade-Low Enforcement,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding border security:

“One point seven million people.

“That is the record-shattering number of illegal immigrants detained along our southern border in just the last 12 months. In one year, 1.7 million people tried to take advantage of the Biden Administration’s intentionally unsecure border and come here illegally. The most ever recorded.

“There are 11 entire states whose populations are smaller than 1.7 million.

“Of the 1.7 million, more than a million were single adults. That is nearly two thirds — not family units, not unaccompanied children, but adults on their own.

“In many cases, this is not about escaping disaster or persecution. This is about wanting a better job in America. It’s less about emergency refugees and more about economics.

“Legal immigration in pursuit of a better future is a core part of our country.

“It reflects our values and makes us stronger. We are a generous country that wants to welcome ambitious new Americans who come the right way.

“But it is beyond disingenuous for the Biden Administration to pretend that huge numbers of people who simply want better jobs are emergency refugees. Those are two different things.

“In this 12-month span, authorities arrested people from 160 different countries.

“Think about that. The U.S. recognizes 195 countries in the entire world. Customs and Border Protection ran into people from all but 35 of them.

“On numerous occasions, these people have told reporters they are coming specifically because of President Biden.

“His campaign rhetoric and his policy decisions have directly created this crisis.

“Late last December, about a month before President Biden took office, he literally said ‘the last thing we need’ would be if his Administration pursued policy changes that caused us to, ‘end up with 2 million people on our border.’

“That’s how President-elect Biden himself defined failure on our border: Two million people showing up.

“And that is exactly what he has brought about.

“All because of the liberal misapprehension that a weak and porous border is a compassionate border. It is not.

“Even now, even as President Biden faces the exact definition of failure which he laid out, the Administration won’t change course.

“A few weeks ago, Secretary Mayorkas released radical new guidance that essentially tries to create amnesty by executive fiat.

“This Mayorkas memo told ICE that, now, being in the country illegally ‘should not alone be the basis’ for making arrests. A baseline policy of no enforcement, with exceptions for certain extenuating circumstances.

“Last week, before the Judiciary Committee, under questioning from Senator Cornyn, even the President’s own nominee to CBP had to admit that non-enforcement policies are a magnet that make the problem worse.

“Even before the new Mayorkas memo, over the whole last 12 months, immigration arrests in the interior of the country fell to their lowest level in more than a decade. ICE arrested half as many people this past year as they did on average in previous years.

“Put two and two together. CBP encounters at the border are at historic highs… but ICE enforcement is down to a decade low. It doesn’t make any sense. Unless we are looking at functional amnesty through non-enforcement.

“But even now, Democrats keep pushing more new policies to incentivize illegal immigration. Their next reckless taxing and spending spree proposes to double down on Democrats’ new monthly welfare deposits that can flow directly to people who are here illegally.

“This is a Democrat-created crisis from top to bottom.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=C99C16D5-BDC7-42CF-8B81-F302CC832BE5,Democrats’ Reckless Spending Spree Would Funnel Billions to Left-Wing Special Interests,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“On the whole, the reckless taxing and spending spree that Democrats want to ram through will hurt families and help China.

“But when you take a close look, there are some special groups of people here at home who would make out like bandits. There are specific special interests that Democrats take great pains to look after.

“For example, a whole chunk of money the Democrats’ proposal supposedly sets aside for patient healthcare would actually finance ultra-generous benefits for members of the powerful, left-wing union, the SEIU.

“The Big Labor bonanza doesn’t stop there. Democrats’ tax plans would allow the expiration of Americans’ above-the-line deduction for charitable and nonprofit donations… but in its place, they want substitute in a brand-new subsidy for union dues!

“Tough luck for the Red Cross and your church collection plate. Washington Democrats say Big Labor bosses come first.

“Democrats also propose lavishing billions of dollars on something they call ‘environmental and climate justice block grants.’

“That sounds like a gift-wrapped giveaway to the universe of nonprofits and activist groups that seemingly exist to grift off of government grants.

“They’d spend billions more on tax credits to subsidize luxury purchases that are overwhelmingly made by wealthy people, like electric cars and $8,000 electric bicycles.

“Then there are billions more in special subsidies and loans for the next generation of Solyndras.

“The gravy train doesn’t stop there.

“When the Biden Administration proposed spending $40 billion on public housing renovations, the senior Senator from New York urged them to double down and spend another $40 billion exclusively on his hometown.

“That’s $40 billion dollars to a housing authority that is apparently well known for bribery and mismanagement — because the Democratic Leader requested it.

“Meanwhile, in Speaker Pelosi’s backyard of San Francisco, the elite trustees of a massive park and development project are licking their chops.

“The Speaker plans to set aside $200 million dollars of the spending spree for this park that is specifically not meant to receive taxpayer money, so they can focus on, ‘environmental and social justice.’

“The Democrats’ spree would also tear down the longstanding, bipartisan Hyde Amendment protections so they can directly fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood with taxpayer dollars.

“Today’s left cannot miss an opportunity to send Planned Parenthood a new slush fund.

“And then there is Democrats’ obsession with the so-called SALT cap.

“Even as our colleagues draft the biggest tax hikes in half a century, they cannot resist the concept of special tax cuts for high earners in blue states.

“They want to reintroduce a federal tax subsidy for living in high-tax states.

“One outside analysis has found that a two-year repeal of the SALT cap would send more than $300,000 to the average household in the top 0.1%. The average household in the bottom 60% would get about $15.

“This isn’t a joke. This is literally the SALT policy that Democrats want. Three hundred grand for the richest folks on the coast, and 15 bucks for normal families.

“It’s the same set-up everywhere you look. Special interests who are connected to the Democratic Party would make out like bandits... and middle-class families would get the bill.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=435F4475-7C8C-4D31-93B8-6037398F6632,Desperate Democrats Now Planning Tax Hikes on Money Americans Haven’t Even Made Yet,2021-10-25,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“The biggest tax hikes in 50 years. The biggest peacetime tax hikes ever recorded in American history.

“That is what Washington Democrats are cooking up.

“Our Democratic colleagues and President Biden are behind closed doors, dreaming up creative new ways to grab historic amounts of the American people’s money.

“Remember, the same socialist spending plans that Democrats claim cost zero dollars somehow also need staggering new tax hikes to pay for them.

“So — even with significant inflation, runaway gas prices, and runaway energy costs already hitting American families in their pocketbooks — Washington Democrats have spent months dreaming up new cash grabs for the IRS.

“Democrats have talked about massively hiking business taxes, to a level that would leave American industries paying more than their competitors in Communist China.

“They’ve talked about jacking up marginal income tax rates in ways that would hammer small businesses and family businesses that file as pass-throughs.

“They’ve talked about adding a second death tax to give the IRS an even bigger bite out of family farms.

“They’ve even proposed something that our country has never seen before: A new IRS surveillance dragnet where the IRS would get to track ordinary citizens’ inflows and outflows. Banks and credit unions would be forced to hand over Americans’ private information to the IRS.

“The Democrats are so desperate to shake down the American people for money that they’re proposing to essentially treat everybody like they’re under audit!

“For months now, our Democratic colleagues have been toying with one staggering tax increase after another. We’ve seen one disappointing jobs report after another… one historic inflation report after another… but Democrats are still convinced that the biggest peacetime tax hikes on record in American history are just what the doctor ordered.

“As one news report explained, ‘the scramble has opened the door to potential tax proposals [that] progressives could only have dreamed of just a few months ago.’

“The far left is officially calling the shots. And that’s where the latest new craziness comes into the picture:

“If public reporting has it right, the Democrats are so desperate to raise taxes that they are now proposing to tax money the American people haven’t even made yet.

Yes, you heard me right. So much for the quaint idea that you had to actually make money first before the IRS could tax it. Now Democrats want to tax money you haven’t even made yet.

“There are already capital gains taxes that Americans pay when they cash out an investment; when they sell what they’ve been holding and realize actual gains. Now Democrats want to go much further and tax certain citizens just because their holdings have gone up in value, regardless of whether they have actually sold them and made any money.

“And get this: In parallel with taxing people on hypothetical gains they haven’t realized, they apparently also want to hand out tax breaks for hypothetical losses that people haven’t realized.

“This harebrained scheme would have the IRS penalizing people who’ve invested wisely and compensating people who’ve invested poorly — all independent of whether they have actually made or lost any money.

“Just think of the unintended consequences.

“Like the fact that, in the event of a market crash or financial crisis, the government would be on the hook for massive automatic tax cuts for billionaires.

“Or the fact that some experts suggest this new scheme could drive the wealthiest Americans away from stocks and bonds, push them into other tax shelters, and thereby reduce the growth in ordinary Americans’ investments that households rely on for college funds and 401(k)s.

“Or the fact that new, innovative entrepreneurs whose startups begin to grow in value could now get hit with a crushing tax bill long before their company is actually cash-flow positive. The next visionary start-up founder could have to sell away ownership prematurely just to pay Uncle Sam.

“Our Democratic colleagues have become so tax-hike-happy, they’re throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

“Now they’re talking about rewiring the entire economy after a couple days’ discussions on the back of an envelope. It’s a massive and untested change that has not received any meaningful study or scrutiny.

“Even the Democratic Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is complaining ‘it hasn’t been marked up, and there’s been no vetting of it.’

“Our Democratic colleague the senior Senator from Montana says, ‘anytime you get into stuff that’s not proven in the tax code it becomes a bit dangerous.’

“The senior Senator from Virginia says, ‘My fear is if we’re going to try some innovative new ideas and if we don’t have time to develop them… we could mess some of this up.’

“No kidding, Madam President.

“This is just the latest saga in this long parade of Democrat tax hikes. Nonpartisan analysts have shown that various aspects of the Democrats’ plans would shatter President Biden’s promise to leave the middle class alone. The middle class will get hit.

“When Republicans had power, we prioritized giving Americans a big tax cut. We wanted families to keep more of their own money and make American businesses more competitive around the world.

“Democrats want the opposite.

“Historic tax hikes.

“So families keep less, Washington gets more, and our competitors like China can pop the champagne.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-again-requests-committee-hearings-after-nih-admits-funding-risky-virus-enhancing/,Dr. Rand Paul Again Requests Committee Hearings After NIH Admits to Funding Risky Virus Enhancing Research,2021-10-25,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 25, 2021

Contact: Paul_Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul sent letters to the chairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) and Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) renewing his request that they hold a hearing or series of hearings on the public health and security risks posed by gain-of-function research. Dr. Paul previously requested hearings on this issue in June 2021.

These renewed requests follow the recent admission by the National Institute of Health (NIH) that it did in fact fund EcoHealth Alliance’s risky virus enhancing research at the Wuhan Lab of Virology, despite Dr. Fauci’s testimony to Congress stating the contrary.

“Regardless of whether the SARS-CoV2 virus came from nature or a lab, it is clear to everyone that lab-made super viruses pose great danger,” said Dr. Paul. “We need to know how much of this research is happening and what dangers we face. I am asking the relevant Senate committees to schedule hearings on this research as soon as possible.”

You can view the letters HERE and HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=0C1BB79C-8F0E-4787-8DFD-2F2D05C9E5CC,"Democrats’ Steps Toward Socialized Medicine Would Cost Some Americans their Coverage, Others their Lives",2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree:

“There’s little confusion about the devastating economic impacts Democrats would bring about by ramming through their reckless taxing and spending spree: more taxes, more debt, and more painful inflation.

“But this isn’t some collection of well-intentioned policies whose price tag has just gotten dangerously out of control.

“The policies, themselves, would mean real pain for American families.

“Case in point: the heavy-handed mandates that would restrict choice and access to affordable, lifesaving healthcare.

“Democrats want to axe the private insurance plans that millions of Americans have chosen and prefer. They want to build new federal health programs and expand the ones that exist today, heaping more than $550 billion in new expenses on taxpayers to insure less than 4 million more people.

“Here’s the truth: the overwhelming majority of Americans today have access to healthcare. Democrats just don’t like the private plans that most Americans choose.

“Then, there’s the plan to heap hundreds of billions of dollars in new programs and huge pools of additional people into a Medicare system that experts say is already dangerously close to insolvency. A huge, risky leap toward Medicare-for-All, at the expense of the stability and the security of the actual Medicare system that millions of seniors rely on right now.

“Democrats want to pour cold water on America’s world-leading medical innovation sector by imposing socialist price caps on prescription medicines. In another example of Democrats’ magic math, the rationale here is apparently that calling something cheaper makes it so!

“In reality, research tells us this would mean fewer new treatments and cures. By one analysis, these price controls could cause up to 20 times as much lost life over a decade as the once-in-a-century COVID pandemic already has. Suppressing innovation through drug socialism would literally cost American lives.

“And of course, they’re planning to leave behind commonsense protections against taxpayer-funded abortion that had enjoyed consistent bipartisan support for decades.

“Madam President, this isn’t just a runaway price tag. The policies themselves are terrible, destructive things that would make American families’ lives worse. And the end goal, as one liberal House member said just yesterday, is a Medicare-for-All system from before you’re born until you die.

“More government between families and affordable care.

“More government between sick patients and lifesaving cures.

“More reckless ideas from Washington Democrats.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2ACB5D76-D1C4-4C49-B546-F9206831F66E,Syria Drone Attack Shows Biden Administration Must Stand Strong,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the drone strike in Syria yesterday:

“Yesterday also brought a sobering reminder of the dangers a new generation of American servicemembers continue to encounter as they follow in the footsteps of these heroes.

“U.S. personnel operating in Syria became the latest targets of a drone attack perpetrated by terrorists. Whether the perpetrators turn out to be ISIS or, more likely, loyal Iranian proxies, it is clear that serious threats are growing across the region.

“The terrorists who seek to harm us, and the regimes that support them, were emboldened by our retreat from Afghanistan.

“Just this week, the U.S.-designated terrorist and Taliban Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, praised suicide bombing Taliban terrorists with American and Afghan blood on their hands and provided cash rewards to their families. The Taliban also continues to hamper the evacuation of American citizens, Afghans who worked with America, and other vulnerable Afghans who are under threat.

“Our allies and adversaries, alike, are wondering whether the Biden Administration intends to stand up to those who dare to challenge us or our allies. They’re watching to see if America will blink in the face of the Taliban’s defiance, or Iran’s aggression.

“I hope the President is prepared to settle this question and deliver on our commitments.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=37B1C9B3-0204-4BD2-B3E4-DC1FB8036C93,Biden Administration Condemns Court-Packing Abroad While Entertaining It Themselves,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding court-packing:

“Earlier this week, during a trip to South America, Secretary of State Blinken said that, ‘undermining the independence of the courts,’ and ‘packing courts’ were among ‘the ways that democracies can come undone.’

“His warning was apparently directed to neighbors in our hemisphere. But ironically, his own fellow Democrats here in Washington D.C. apparently need the same lecture.

“Last week, President Biden’s much-ballyhooed commission tasked with studying potential changes to the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court issued its first findings. And in some corners of the radical left, there was predictable disappointment that it had not more explicitly fed the flames.

“But let’s be clear: the mere creation of this commission was itself a clumsy act of political thuggery against judicial independence.

“And what it did seem to support – slapping term limits on Supreme Court justices – is no less of a radical affront to the principles on which the Court was established.

“Madam President, curtailing the tenure of our nation’s seniormost judges is such an obvious threat to judicial independence, it’s literally been warned about since our nation’s founding.

“Alexander Hamilton didn’t mince words in Federalist 78. He warned that the judiciary is, ‘in continual jeopardy of being overpowered, awed, or influenced by its co-ordinate branches; and that as nothing can contribute so much to its firmness and independence as permanency in office, this quality may therefore be justly regarded as an indispensable ingredient in its constitution.’

“An indispensable ingredient, Madam President. Alexander Hamilton on life tenure for judges.

“Our founders insisted on it because they knew that the branches of government with the powers to write and execute laws would be tempted to undermine the branch that could exercise nothing but its judgment.

“And to an alarming degree in recent years, we’ve seen Democrats in both the executive and the legislature succumb to exactly this temptation.

“From the brazen amicus brief from a group of our Senate colleagues warning the Court to ‘heal itself’ lest it be ‘restructured’…

“To the bizarre verbal threats issued by the Democratic Leader on the steps of the Court, naming Justices who would ‘pay the price’ for failing to rule the way he wanted…

“To the pseudo-academic commission the President created to consider re-animating the ugly cadaver of court-packing that his party last tried 80 years ago.

“Madam President, these are nonsense responses to a non-existent problem.

“The real problem is the shameful depths to which Democrats are apparently willing to stoop in pursuit of brute power. As I’ve said before, sensible people of all political stripes have an obligation to condemn this behavior.

“But the most embarrassing condemnation of these tired tactics?

“Our founders saw it all coming, centuries in advance.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=3B74915D-3F42-43C6-A41B-0AA28AAD94BF,ICYMI: McConnell on ‘America’s Newsroom’,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined Dana Perino on Fox News Channel’s ‘America’s Newsroom’ this morning. See below for highlights or click here to watch the full interview:

On Democrats’ Reckless Taxing and Spending Spree:

“The Wall Street Journal [Editorial Board] figured out what the game is. The game is to shrink the cost, start a whole lot of programs, and claim that it doesn't really cost that much because they expire in a year or two. The goal, of course, is they all become so popular we get them forever. This is just one more round of the kind of inflationary policies that they enacted earlier this year on a party-line basis. They dumped almost $2 trillion on the economy, sent inflation through the roof, and they’re not through. They want to keep on doing it with higher taxes and entitlement programs. What that means to your viewers is they never go away. You can make them look less expensive by saying they will expire in a couple of years, but [Democrats’] gamble is, once they start they never end. And of course, the deficit continues to mount.”

On the IRS Dragnet to Spy on Bank Accounts:

“If every single American was under audit every year, this is completely outrageous. [It’s] a violation of privacy and I hope in the end those advocating this will back away from it. I think the American people will go berserk over this.”

On Democrats’ Efforts to Federalize our Elections:

“It is against the law in America to discriminate against voters on the basis of race. The Voting Rights Act is still intact. What they're trying to do is have the federal government take over all the ways that we do elections in this country, which have historically been administered at the state level. There is not a single state in America enacting new laws after the pandemic trying to suppress the vote based upon race. If the Justice Department thinks any state is doing that, they can go to court.

“My prediction is they’re going to lose. They’re going to lose in Georgia. They’re going to lose in Texas. Kentucky also passed a new law supported mostly by Democrats, signed by a Democratic governor, and our law is arguably more restrictive than the Georgia law or the Texas law. But you don't hear anybody complaining about the Kentucky law because the Democratic governor signed it. This is a solution in search of a problem. Americans all over the country can easily vote right now.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=C3B13E75-AEE4-495E-AB7D-0DDF2ABB26BC,McConnell Honors Justice Thomas’ 30th Anniversary with Speech on the Senate and the Judiciary,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered the featured keynote address Thursday evening at an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation and the C. Boyden Gray Center at the Antonin Scalia School of Law in honor of Justice Clarence Thomas’s 30 years and counting on the Supreme Court.

Excerpts from Leader McConnell’s remarks on the Senate, the judiciary, and Justice Thomas follow below:

On the confirmation process:

“The linkage between the Senate and the Supreme Court is a fascinating, crucial, and frankly slightly strange part of our constitutional order.

“An institution of our federal government that is sacredly nonpolitical and another institution that is entirely and intentionally political come crashing together.

“During some periods, ‘advice and consent’ was a perfunctory and sleepy process. Other times, Senates adopted what we might call a more assertive posture. And in some of those latter cases, the confirmation process becomes a kind of referendum on the very same principles and values that the Justices are meant to uphold on the bench.

“The presumption of innocence. The due process of law. We all know these subjects are constantly up for discussion in the Court. But what is fascinating and disturbing is the frequency with which those same principles are ending up on trial across the street on our Senate floor.”

“I was a freshman Senator when the far left ate Robert Bork alive in 1987. I’d come to the Senate with a high-minded, perhaps naïve view that I’d expressed in that law journal article: The Senate should stick to evaluating nominees’ competence and integrity, and let Presidents select for legal philosophy as they liked. That’s what I’d thought.

“Well, it didn’t take long for Ted Kennedy and friends to permanently disabuse me of that notion. I stood at my freshman’s desk in the back row and explained that I’d be happy to play by the Democrats’ new rules and make judicial philosophy a salient factor going forward. Let’s just say history has a funny way of making people reap what they sow. In 1987, the far left taught the American people they should care about judicial philosophies. In 2013, Harry Reid broke Senate rules to change Senate rules to set the threshold for confirmation at 51. It’s safe to say neither of those moves has played out like my colleagues intended.”

On Justice Thomas’s personal qualities:

“The same grit that carried Clarence through Pinpoint and Savannah…

“The same stubborn faithfulness that let him ultimately keep faith in both his Church and his country even after they both let him down in ugly ways as a young Black man…

“The same commitment to principle that compelled Clarence to blaze an uncomfortable trail in Washington, disrupting everybody’s expectations…

“All these virtues proved necessary that summer and fall. And all of them were on display. At every step of his journey, Justice Thomas has provided living proof that — as a wise man named Myers Anderson liked to say — ‘Old Man ‘Can’t’ is dead.’ He sure is. And Mr. Anderson’s grandson Clarence helped bury him.

“It’s even more impressive when you remember that this courageous and determined person is also, famously, one of the most affable, genial, and un-self-serious people in all of Washington.

“In fact, after watching Justice Thomas excel these 30 years, I’m tempted to propose a new standard here tonight: The Senate should only confirm the kinds of men and women who, when their dramatic final confirmation vote is taking place, decide to turn off the TV and take a bath instead. We should only confirm people who are happier tailgating out of an RV than rubbing elbows at a cocktail party. Now there’s a standard I could get behind.”

On the role of judges in our constitutional order:

“Radical voices have a problem with Justice Thomas because he limits his job to his job description.

“It’s not about left or right. It’s about our constitutional order itself. Every Justice Thomas opinion evinces a clear understanding that while the role of a judge in our constitutional system is significant and essential, that role is not unbounded.

“The framers did not create these insulated, unaccountable tribunals for judges to act like wannabe legislators and make policy. Trust me, having two legislative chambers is plenty.

“Neither should judges behave like philosopher-kings, who think they’re charged with nudging Americans into line with elite morality.

“And furthermore — and this is especially important in our current climate — judges must not see themselves as political strategists. They are not tasked with reasoning backwards from abstract impressions about what outcomes the nation supposedly needs or the Court’s public standing supposedly requires. We need the rule of law, not the rule of polls.

“The judiciary exists to resolve concrete cases and controversies by examining concrete facts and applying concrete texts.”

On growing threats to judicial independence and the rule of law:

“My friends, storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. The very concept of an independent and insulated judiciary is at stake.

“A year and a half ago, the Democratic Leader in the Senate grabbed a microphone on the Supreme Court’s steps and threatened two Justices — by name — if they did not rule in ways that aligned with his views on abortion.

“Half a year before that, a whole group of Senate Democrats sent the Justices an amicus brief that read like a letter out of The Godfather. Senator Whitehouse and his colleagues wrote, and this is a direct quote: ‘The Court is not well… [and] perhaps the Court can heal itself before the public demands it be “restructured…”’

“This very week, President Biden’s Secretary of State was in Ecuador giving a speech about democracy. I promise I am not making this up. Without a shred of self-awareness, he specifically mentioned ‘undermining the independence of the courts’ and ‘packing courts’ as two signs that democracy is under attack.

“This was less than a week after the Democrats’ pseudo-academic Supreme Court commission tried a laughably transparent move: They temporarily shelved the idea of outright court-packing in order to make the equally shocking concept of eliminating life tenure appear like a moderate option by comparison…

“Again, this is not about conservative policy outcomes versus liberal ones. This runs much deeper. One of our country’s two major political movements has decided they are fed up with trying to win the contest of ideas within the institutions the framers left us, and would rather take aim at the institutions themselves…

“Hostage-takers never settle for half a loaf. There is only one valid response to these efforts to bully impartiality out of America’s courtrooms: To give them no corner. To pay them no heed. We need jurists, young and old, whose only response to these blustering threats is to redouble their commitment to follow the law wherever it may lead, with no fear or favor.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=E885B37B-D3D8-4E4E-A6A2-DB3949DFDFE0,McConnell Celebrates Honor Flight and Kentucky Veterans,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding his visit with Honor Flight Bluegrass:

“Yesterday, it was my privilege to welcome a distinguished group of Kentucky veterans from all across the Commonwealth to our nation’s capital.

“Representing every branch of the military, more than sixty Kentuckians who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor.

“The Honor Flight program, which coordinates these trips, is finally back up and running after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down their operations last year. I couldn’t be more thankful for this organization’s seamless planning and execution, especially in light of this year’s added complications.

“The Honor Flight Bluegrass Chapter has brought hundreds of veterans to Washington over the years, mirroring the important work of their peer organizations nationwide.

“Despite the significant logistical and financial hurdles of these trips, the Honor Flight program ensures every veteran can travel at no cost to themselves.

“I had the opportunity to meet with some of these Kentucky heroes and listen to their incredible stories. Their service spanned generations, continents, and conflicts, but one thread unites them all: a complete dedication to the cause of freedom and a deep love for our great nation.

“As the son of a World War II veteran, I have a special appreciation for these men and women. It was a great honor to stand by their side as they visited the solemn monuments constructed to commemorate their sacrifice.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those brave servicemembers. And to the hardworking Honor Flight organizers and volunteers who made their visit possible – thank you.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-honors-lad-n-lassie-childrens-boutique-prestonsburg-kentucky-senate-small/,"Dr. Rand Paul Honors Lad n’ Lassie Children’s Boutique of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, as Senate Small Business of the Week",2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 22, 2021

Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Lad n’ Lassie Children’s Boutique of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a woman-owned small business,

Lad n’ Lassie Children’s Boutique of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In 1965, Dorothy Marshal founded Lad n’ Lassie Children’s Boutique. Noticing the lack of children’s clothing retailers, Dorothy seized the opportunity to fill a gap in the local market. Over the next 32 years, Dorothy’s boutique sold the finest children’s clothing, shoes, and toys to her customers. She retired from Lad n’ Lassie in 1997, selling the business to longtime family friend and Prestonsburg native, Cheryl Leslie.

In 2021, Lad n’ Lassie Children’s Boutique continues serving Floyd County. The store moved to a new location in downtown Prestonsburg in 1999, where it remains today. Under Cheryl’s leadership, inventory expanded to include educational products and gifts. Lad n’ Lassie supports small businesses, featuring locally and regionally-made items. Customers are regularly greeted by name and treated like family. The store hosts community events, including workshops with visiting artists, and participates in downtown holiday events and festivals. Lad n’ Lassie is a go-to for local baby shower gift registries, supporting generations of Kentuckians as they grow their families and welcome children into the world.

Like many small business owners, Cheryl is actively involved in her community. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and regularly meets with local merchants to discuss business development. For years, Lad n’ Lassie has contributed to a wide range of local philanthropic organizations, sponsoring events such as the Appalachian Hospice Care’s Annual Veterans’ Appreciation Luncheon. They regularly support local school district events and organizations, including the sponsorship of dance, cheerleading, and sports teams. During the holiday season, Lad n’ Lassie sponsors the annual Prestonsburg Police Department’s “Shop with a Cop” event, providing holiday care packages and gift for children in need.

Additionally, they sponsored Mountain Comprehensive Care Center’s (MCCC) Royal Christmas Ball, which helps children impacted by behavioral health issues, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and addiction. Over the years, the Boutique’s outstanding service and community involvement have been recognized by local publications and organizations. Most recently, Lad n’ Lassie was named the “Best of the Best” children’s clothing store in 2021 by the local newspaper, the Floyd County Chronicle & Times.

Lad n’ Lassie Children’s Boutique is an outstanding example of the critical role small businesses play in uplifting and advocating for their communities. Congratulations to Cheryl and the entire team at Lad n’ Lassie. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=37E8E525-2FAA-460B-97D5-236E4EC97C0E,"Democrats’ Latest Effort to Take Over Elections Will Fail in Senate, Like the Others",2021-10-20,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding election law:

“Later today, the Democratic Leader will have the Senate vote on the latest iteration of his party’s election takeover scheme.

“Frankly, I’ve lost count of how many times our Democratic colleagues have tried to truss up the same takeover with new trappings.

“For multiple years running, Washington Democrats have offered a rotating merry-go-round of rationales to explain why they need to federalize voting laws and take over all of America’s elections themselves.

“But every time they try this shtick in the Senate, it falls flat. Today will be no exception.

“This latest umpteenth iteration is only a compromise in the sense that the left and the far left argued among themselves about exactly how much power to grab in which areas.

“This latest bill still subjects popular, commonsense state election integrity protections like voter ID to the whims of federal bureaucrats.

“It still sends government money to political campaigns, for goodness sakes. It still puts Washington in the middle of the states’ redistricting decisions. And on and on.

“The same rotten core is all there.

“The Senate knows how to make law in a productive, bipartisan way. We’ve done it this year on multiple subjects. We have done it on election issues themselves in recent memory when there was an actual problem that needed solving and an actually bipartisan process.

“But as long as Senate Democrats remain fixated on their radical agenda, this body will continue to do the job the framers assigned it, and stop terrible ideas in their tracks.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=6223B0BE-BCE1-4743-B349-AE053C1B6915,All-Democrat Government Neglecting Most Basic Governing Duties,2021-10-20,2021,2021-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats’ governance:

“Our country would be much better off if our Democratic colleagues shelved their radical wish-list and focused on their fundamental responsibilities as a one-party government. But while they continue to spin their wheels negotiating this reckless taxing and spending spree, their most basic jobs are going neglected.

“This week, already months behind the usual pace, the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee released partisan drafts of spending bills that are dead on arrival.

“They spend too much. They cut out longstanding taxpayer protections like the Hyde Amendment. And they short-change our national defense, even as we face serious and growing threats from terrorism and major competitors like China and Russia.

“Most of these bills can’t earn 50 votes, much less 60. When Republicans ran the Senate, by this time of year, we’d had bipartisan frameworks in hand for months and were hammering out the fine details across the aisle. Our Democratic colleagues are way behind schedule with no solution in sight.

“It’s also looking increasingly likely that we’ll reach Veterans Day before the Senate takes up the National Defense Authorization Act.

“Never mind that this year’s bill earned overwhelming bipartisan support in committee. Never mind that it represents this body’s single most important opportunity to influence national security.

“Our troops are being put in the back seat so the socialists can drive the car.

“And, at the end of the month, because House liberals still cannot get their act together and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill which the Senate passed months ago, major highway projects and American workers are scheduled to be thrown into limbo.

“Our Democratic colleagues have unified control of government. The country needs them to stop arguing among themselves over how to waste trillions of dollars and execute on their most basic jobs.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z