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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 United States Supreme Court vacancy:

“President Obama will fly to Chicago where he will try and convince Americans that, despite his own actions while in the Senate to deny a Supreme Court nominee a vote, the Constitution somehow now requires the Senate to have a vote on his nominee no matter what — and thereby deny the American people a voice in the future of the Supreme Court. In the words of the Washington Post’s Fact Checker, he’ll be ‘telling supporters a politically convenient fairy tale.’

“I’m sure he’ll gloss over the fact that the decision about filling this pivotal seat could impact our country for decades, that it could dramatically affect our most cherished Constitutional rights like those contained in the First and Second Amendments.

“I'm sure he’ll continue to demand that Washington spend its time fighting on one issue where we don’t agree rather than working together on issues where we do.

“I'm sure he'll spend some time refuting the words of his own Vice President.

“I’m sure he’ll repeatedly claim that his nominee is ‘moderate.’

“Not that he means it. It’s just a useful piece of spin that’s been dutifully echoed across the expanse of the Left and in the media for years.

“Consider the recent Democratic Supreme Court nominees. One Washington Post columnist hailed the ‘moderate’ record of President Obama’s first pick to the Supreme Court. One New York newspaper proclaimed his second nominee a ‘pragmatic centrist.’

“When President Clinton made his Supreme Court nominations, the Post declared one a — you guessed it — ‘moderate’ and the New York Times practically fell over itself exalting the ‘resolutely centrist’ style of the other.

“That last nominee, who said it would be a good idea to abolish Mother’s Day by the way, was not just firmly centrist, not just decisively centrist, but resolutely centrist in the Times’ opinion.

“The records of every one of these Supreme Court Justices have been anything but moderate or centrist in the years since — they’ve been resolutely left-wing. But that’s the point. ‘Moderate’ isn’t actually a true descriptor for Democratic Supreme Court nominees, it’s just burned into the printing presses of editorial boards.

“Yet even The New York Times has had to admit that President Obama’s current nominee would give Americans the most left-wing Supreme Court in 50 years. That is why the Far Left is squarely behind President Obama’s campaign to deny the American people a say in this momentous decision. They understand the stakes.

“They don’t want the American people messing this up for them. And they’ll say what they always say to get what they want today: a far-left Supreme Court for decades to come.

“This is just one more reason why the American people are lucky to have a Judiciary Committee Chairman like Senator Grassley in their corner.

“Senator Grassley is passionate about giving the people of this country a voice in such a critical conversation. He’s stood strong for the people throughout this debate. And he’s proven himself a dedicated legislator throughout this new majority, with yet another Judiciary Committee-passed bill clearing the Senate on a bipartisan basis this week.

“He understands that we don’t need to get stuck fighting about one issue, he understands that we can let the American people make their voices heard on this matter while the Senate continues doing its work on important legislation.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the Obama Administration announcing its latest regulation that would negatively impact retirement savings:

“Today the Administration will unveil a set of regulations many believe will make it harder for low- to middle-class families to save for retirement. This regulation has been a long time coming, and there will be changes made from what was initially proposed. However, the fundamentals are likely to remain the same. If that’s the case, then here’s what we can say.

“Some have estimated that investment fees could more than double under this regulation.

“Here’s what that could mean: Access to critical retirement advice for those who can afford it, and restricted access to affordable advice — and fewer retirement savings as a result – for too many lower- and middle-class Americans.

“It reminds some people of Obamacare. Here’s why…

“Like Obamacare, it threatens to upend an entire industry, threatens to increase costs and decrease access, and threatens to hurt the very people it’s aimed at helping.

“This regulation could have the effect of discouraging investment advisors from taking on clients with smaller accounts. What that means is that smaller savers — everyday Americans trying to plan for their future — could have less access to sound investment advice. One report projects the rule could cost Middle Class families $80 billion in lost savings over the next decade.

“And already, I’ve heard from Kentuckians who fear the negative repercussions this rule could have. For example, one financial advisor in my state shared with me his concerns about how the rule, as proposed, could impact his clients:

“There’s the single mom with a daughter in college who he fears could see significant investment fee increases under the rule — increases she simply can’t afford.

“The small business, which could have a harder time accessing investment advice, potentially leading it to stop offering retirement plans to employees altogether.

“And the retirees, living off their life-savings, who could see reductions in their fixed income because of potential increases in investment costs…

“From its initial proposal at a campaign-style event to its roll-out today, this regulation seems to have always been more about politics than good policy. According to a report released by the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Chairman, the Administration seems to have ‘disregarded…concerns and declined to implement recommendations’ from career, nonpartisan staff and government officials. Chairman Johnson’s report goes on to say the Administration ‘frequently prioritized the expeditious completion of the rulemaking process at the expense of thoughtful deliberation.’

“America’s Middle Class deserves responsible solutions, not far-reaching regulations that could jeopardize the retirement security of the very people it purports to help.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act:

“The bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act is the product of a collaborative committee process in a Senate that’s back to work. It was guided and informed by a series of substantive committee hearings. It contains ideas from committee members on both sides of the aisle. And because both Republicans and Democrats were given a stake in the outcome, it passed the Commerce Committee on a voice vote.

“Senator Thune is the Chair of that committee. Senator Ayotte is the Chair of the committee’s aviation panel. We recognize key players like these for their many months of hard work, hearings, and collaboration. We recognize the Ranking Members – Senators Nelson and Cantwell – and committee members from both sides for their contributions too.

“The bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act will support American jobs and help American manufacturing. It will improve safety in the skies, and security in our airports.

“It contains common-sense reforms for passengers too, in fact a consumer columnist for The Washington Post dubbed it ‘one of the most passenger-friendly Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bills in a generation.’ For instance:

• To the extent an airline charges fees for things like baggage, or cancellations, or changes, this bill will help ensure they provide it in a clear, standard format people can understand.

• It will allow passengers to get refunds for services they purchase but don’t receive, like if they’ve been charged a bag fee and the bag doesn’t make it.

• It will give passengers more peace of mind when they travel, directing the FAA to update the contents of onboard emergency medical kits.

• And it will maintain rural access in states like Kentucky.

“The bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act achieves all of this without imposing the kind of over-regulation that takes away choices from consumers and threatens service.

“It does everything I mentioned without raising taxes or fees on travelers. It’s a balanced bill.

“That doesn’t mean some colleagues won’t have ideas or amendments they’d like to have considered. For instance, in the wake of incidents like we saw in Brussels, I know some have expressed interest in security-related amendments. But in order to even have an opportunity to work through any additional ideas or amendments, we must first get on the bill.

“So if colleagues are serious about having the opportunity for amendments of any kind, here’s what that means today.

“Let’s continue doing our job. Let’s vote today to get on this bill.”

Recent Press Releases

McConnell Reiterates American People Will Be Heard On Supreme Court, Senate Will Continue Work On Important Legislation

April 7, 2016

Another Obama Administration Regulation with Negative Repercussions

‘America’s Middle Class deserves responsible solutions, not far-reaching regulations that could jeopardize the retirement security of the very people it purports to help.’

April 6, 2016

McConnell Urges Support for Bipartisan FAA Bill to Protect American Consumers

‘The bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act will support American jobs and help American manufacturing. It will improve safety in the skies, and security in our airports...without raising taxes or fees on travelers…Let’s continue doing our job. Let’s vote today to get on this bill.’

April 6, 2016