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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell applauded Senate passage of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 in response to the Obama administration’s veterans’ healthcare scandal. The measure passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and will now be sent to the White House for enactment.

“I am very pleased both parties in Congress joined together to pass this legislation in an effort to fix the administration’s VA crisis. This scandal is a national disgrace as thousands of veterans have waited for months to receive VA care, some died before they received the medical attention they deserved and were promised,” Senator McConnell said. “I was proud to support this legislation that will increase patient choice for veterans and introduce some much-needed accountability into the VA.”

The legislation provides access to outside, private health care for veterans in the VA system who are unable to receive a VA appointment within 30 days and for those living over 40 miles from of the nearest VA medical facility. It also provides additional authority to fire VA bureaucrats for performance failures and it funds the hiring of new VA doctors and nurses in an effort to reduce appointment wait times.

“As I personally reiterated to VA Secretary Bob McDonald before his confirmation, a dramatic change in culture at the VA is critical to correcting the department’s failures and to better serving our veterans,” Senator McConnell said. “I hope Secretary McDonald proves to be a capable leader and manager who will move swiftly to implement these vital changes. With this new legislation, Congress has certainly given him and the president the authority to act.”

Carl Kaelin, Vice Chairman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Committee, said, “Kentucky’s veterans have no better friend than Senator McConnell. We are very appreciative of his dedicated leadership on behalf of America’s veterans and of his commitment to ensuring passage of this vital legislation.”

The following is background on Senator McConnell’s work to help move this legislation through Congress:

• Sen. McConnell speaks about the VA scandal eight times on the Senate floor since May 2014
• Sen. McConnell votes for the Senate VA bill in June 2014
• Sen. McConnell sends a letter to former Acting VA Secretary Gibson in June 2014 relaying his concern over wait times at the Louisville and Lexington VA Medical Centers
• Sen. McConnell meets with VA Secretary McDonald in June 2014 prior to his confirmation
• Sen. McConnell speaks on Senate floor about importance of the VA compromise bill
• Sen. McConnell votes to confirm VA Secretary McDonald in July 2014
• Sen. McConnell votes for final passage of VA Conference Committee Report legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Friday that the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to assist Kentucky families adopting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Senate Resolution, which Senator McConnell co-sponsored with Senator Rob Portman and a number of his Senate colleagues last month, calls for the lifting of an exit permit suspension that has prevented close to 1,000 Congolese children who have been or are in the process of being adopted by American families, including some Kentucky families, from leaving the DRC.

In September 2013, the Congolese Ministry of Interior and Security suspended the issuance of exit permits for adopted children seeking to leave the country with their adoptive parents. More than 350 of these children have been legally adopted by families in the United States, but less than 20 children have received exit permits to leave the DRC.

Kentucky is among the states with the highest number of families whose adopted children are unable to leave the DRC – more than 20 families across the Commonwealth are affected.

“I am pleased the resolution I helped introduce to assist Kentucky families adopting from the DRC has passed the U.S. Senate with broad support. This resolution sends a strong message to the DRC about the need for an immediate solution. However, much work remains, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of the families trying to bring their children home.”

Senator McConnell remains in contact with most of the identified families whose children remain in the DRC, and he encourages any family who has not already been in contact with his office to reach out for information and assistance at 202-224-2541, or via email on his website at www.mcconnell.senate.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell that would allocate an additional $225 million for production of Iron Dome missile defense components so that Israel can maintain adequate stockpiles and defend its population from missile attacks launched by the terrorist group Hamas.

“The Iron Dome missile defense system has played a critical role in defending Israel’s population from rocket attacks launched by Hamas from within the Gaza Strip,” McConnell said. “The Iron Dome system will remain essential to Israel’s security until a cease fire is achieved, and it will remain vital afterwards as well, because this defensive system helps blunt the impact of one of Hamas’ preferred tools of terror.”

McConnell added: “By passing this bipartisan measure, we send a message to Hamas that its terrorist tactics and its attempts to terrorize Israel’s populace will not succeed. And we can help Israel defend its civilian population against indiscriminate attacks as it continues its campaign—Operation Protective Edge—to destroy the often-Iranian-supplied weapons stockpiled within Gaza.”

McConnell introduced legislation to fund the request and called on Congress to approve the spending.

Recent Press Releases

Senator McConnell Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Help Protect America’s Veterans

August 1, 2014

McConnell-Cosponsored Resolution to Help Kentucky Families Adopting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Passes U.S. Senate

August 1, 2014

Senate Passes McConnell-Sponsored Funding for Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense System

‘By passing this bipartisan measure, we send a message to Hamas that its terrorist tactics and its attempts to terrorize Israel’s populace will not succeed.’

August 1, 2014