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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Monday that the Senate approved his request to name the current and future VA hospital in Louisville the “Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.” McConnell’s proposal is included in FY 2010 Military Construction/VA appropriations bill, which is currently being considered on the Senate floor.

The idea of naming the hospital after Rex was first brought to the attention of Senator McConnell by a Kentucky veteran. The proposal has the support of the Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations of Kentucky, which is composed of over 20 state veterans organizations.

“The naming of the VA hospital in Louisville after Kentucky’s last World War I-era veteran is one step closer to reality,” McConnell said. “I appreciate my colleagues in the Senate recognizing a true Kentucky hero, Robley Rex. He was not only one of the Bluegrass State’s best known veterans, he was also its preeminent volunteer on behalf of veterans.”

“The new VA hospital will be vital to Kentucky’s veterans, as well as to Louisville’s economy,” McConnell added. “Once complete, the new hospital will ensure that the men and women who served our country will receive the quality health care they deserve. That devotion to ensuring quality care to our veterans is exemplified in the life and service of Robley Rex. How fitting that his fellow veterans—so many of whom knew him personally from his countless hours of volunteer service—will see his name above the door.”

Decades after his own military service ended, Rex continued to serve his fellow soldiers by volunteering at the Louisville VA Medical Center. Rex served his nation during the period immediately following World War I and devoted over 14,000 hours of his time volunteering to help fellow veterans. Rex passed away on April 28, 2009, a few days shy of his 108th birthday. He was Kentucky’s last World War I-era veteran.

Last year, the VA Secretary agreed to a request made by Senator McConnell to spend $75 million for the planning and design needed to build a new Louisville VA hospital, which was the maximum the VA could obligate for the project in FY '09. The site selection process for the new hospital is currently underway.

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‘The White House’s decision today to bring the 9/11 plotters within our borders and into our communities instead of trying them at the secure detention facility at Guantanamo is a step backwards for the security of our country and puts Americans unnecessarily at risk’

LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Friday regarding the administration’s decision to bring the 9/11 plotters to the United States:

“The White House’s decision today to bring the 9/11 plotters within our borders and into our communities instead of trying them at the secure detention facility at Guantanamo is a step backwards for the security of our country and puts Americans unnecessarily at risk.

“This misguided decision is based on the false belief that the terrorists who killed 3,000 Americans in one day on U.S. soil are common criminals—not war criminals. But there are needless risks from this decision: classified information can be inadvertently leaked, as it was in the first World Trade Center trial; our cities will face enormous security problems; and our communities will be potential targets for attack.”

Background: Despite an overwhelming bipartisan Senate vote earlier this year to keep Guantanamo detainees out of the United States, today’s action by the administration was endorsed by 54 Senate Democrats last week by opposing the Lieberman-Graham amendment that sought to bar the 9/11 plotters from being brought to the U.S. for civilian trial.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the memorial service at Ft. Hood:

“Later today, the Fort Hood community will honor the victims of the tragic shootings there last week. We were all shocked by this assault on American soldiers right in the heart of the post they called home. We mourn their loss, and we pray for the victims and their families. In the midst of this terrible tragedy, we also saw the courage of many troops and civilian law enforcement. And we thank these brave men and women for the dedication they showed in putting themselves in harm’s way."

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Recent Press Releases

Senate Approves McConnell Provision to Name the Louisville VA Hospital after Robley Rex

November 16, 2009

A ‘misguided decision’ by the White House to Bring 9/11 Plotters to the U.S.

November 13, 2009

Senator McConnell Comments on Ft. Hood Memorial Service

November 10, 2009