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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“President Obama’s approach to national security policy began with unworkable ideas on the campaign trail, and it’s been marked by some consistent themes.

“Like inflexible commitments to drawing down our conventional military posture from across the globe. Like an excessive reliance on international organizations. Like a tendency toward the use of special operations forces to train and equip units in other countries.

“What do we see as we look back now, at the twilight of his presidency?

“We’ve seen increased instability in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen.

“We’ve seen the evolution of Al Qaeda in Iraq into ISIL, and its expansion into Libya, Syria, and the Sinai.

“In just a few short months the next commander-in-chief, regardless of party will be faced with the consequences of the President’s failed foreign policy and will need to adapt an insufficient defense modernization program to tackle both the challenges posed by terrorism and by adversaries like China, Russia and Iran.

“This is why we need to use the remaining months of this Administration to help prepare the next Administration, regardless of party, to deal with the mess it’s about to inherit. That’s what we’re doing here on the floor now.

“The defense bill before us will modernize our military and provide our troops with more of the tools they need to confront the threats we face.

“It will help prepare our next commander-in-chief to confront the complex challenges of today and tomorrow.

“It’s serious policy, policy that will help keep our country safe, and after years of this Administration’s spin and failures that’s what our people deserve.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:

“There are an array of threats facing our country. And, as the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee recently observed, ‘[i]nstead of one great power rival, the United States now faces a series of trans-regional, cross-functional, multi-domain, and long-term strategic competitions.’

“There are the conventional military challenges, like adversaries who've been developing and modernizing their missiles, airframes, ships, and ground forces.

“There are the asymmetric threats, like cyber warfare, propaganda, and espionage. And there are nations like China, Iran, and Russia, which present both conventional and asymmetric threats at the same time.

“If we’re going to keep Americans safe, we have to prepare for all of these challenges.

“We have to modernize our defenses, keep up with technological advances, and recognize threats.

“Passing the National Defense Authorization Act before us will put our country on the path to doing these things.

“It’s a reform bill that will encourage defense innovation.

“It’s a forward-looking bill that will upgrade our missile defenses and modernize our military equipment. And it’s a responsible bill that will ensure America’s men and women in uniform receive more of the resources they need to confront the challenges of today and the threats of tomorrow.

“As I’ve said before, we should use the remaining months of the Obama Administration to prepare the next Administration, whether Republican or Democrat, for the variety of challenges it will inherit. These are complex challenges without simple answers.

“Passing a pro-reform, pro-innovation, pro-modernization defense bill like this one will leave us better equipped to solve them.

“It will leave us better equipped to keep Americans — and our allies — safe in the face of ever-evolving security challenges.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the Toxic Substances Control Act, the first major environmental reform in two decades:

“After months of hard work and collaboration between both chambers, last night we were able to pass the first major environmental reform bill in two decades.

“I know Bonnie Lautenberg has waited for this day for a very long time.

“The Lautenberg Act bears her husband’s name and will go a long way toward modernizing our nation’s chemical safety regulations.

“It will look out for public safety, enhance transparency, and help support manufacturing and our economy.

“It’s good legislation that languished for years until a new Senate majority made it a renewed priority. I want to thank Senators Inhofe and Vitter for all their work with Senators Udall and Markey to move this important measure forward.

“Its passage represents the latest example of how the Senate is back to work for the American people.”

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