News

Washington, D.C. – U. S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Tuesday regarding the President’s nomination of Lt. General James Peake (Ret.) as Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

“The men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect our security and freedom represent the best our country has to offer. We hold our veterans in the highest regard and it is my expectation that the new Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs will work every day to ensure they have the best care in the world, and to identify and correct any areas where the VA has fallen short in its duty to our nation’s veterans.

“In meeting with Gen. Peake I will ensure he is a worthy advocate for the men and women who have served our country. The Senate must do its part and consider the nomination of Gen. Peake through a fair but complete hearing and floor debate—followed by a vote—so that our veterans continue to receive the care and attention they deserve.”

Background

Lt. General James Peake, a board certified general and thoracic surgeon, served as the Surgeon General of the Army and Commander of the United States Medical Command from 2000 to 2004. After retiring from U.S. Army Medical Corps, Dr. Peake was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Project HOPE, a nonprofit health foundation.

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell released the following statement Tuesday regarding House passage of a seven-year extension of the Internet tax moratorium. The tax relief measure passed in the Senate last week by a unanimous vote.

“Internet users across the country have Sen. Sununu and others to thank for keeping Internet access tax free and ensuring economic growth and innovation can continue without government interference for an additional seven years. By passing the Senate’s seven-year tax relief, the House agreed that the four-year ban was insufficient. But our job is not finished – we must continue to fight to ban taxes on Internet access--permanently.”

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‘I think this Senate ought to honor our veterans and the brave men and women who serve under our country’s flag by sending the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs and Defense appropriations bills to the president’s desk by Veterans Day without any gimmicks or games’

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks Tuesday on the Senate floor regarding the Democrats’ failure to pass appropriations bills five weeks into the fiscal year:

“A lot of the business of the Senate involves numbers.

“There are 100 Senators. The majority has 51, this side of the aisle 49. It takes 60 votes to pass most significant legislation. Senators are always thinking about many different numbers.

“But today’s number is real simple. The number is five.

“Yes, just five.

“Five because this is the fifth week of the new fiscal year. But our friends on the other side of the aisle have yet to fulfill, as the Majority Whip puts it, ‘the most fundamental job Congress is expected to do,’ and send a single appropriations bill to the President’s desk.

“Let me give just one example. This Senate passed the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which provides critical funds for our wounded warriors, deserving veterans and the base installations that house our service members and their families, in a bipartisan 92 to 1 vote—nearly two months ago. Yet that bill now sits idle, as we wait for the majority to call it up to conference.

“Meanwhile, as early as today the majority could proceed to take up valuable floor time on another version of the SCHIP bill, which is certain to be vetoed, again, by the President.

“Republicans want to strengthen and secure the SCHIP program. And the exact wrong way to do that is to lose focus on the low-income children it was designed to protect.

“So let’s work together on a compromise that will keep the focus where it belongs, on low-income children.

“But I suspect I’m going to have plenty of chances to come back to the floor and debate this issue very soon.

“The point is, working on a bill we know will be vetoed is not the best use of precious legislative time.

“So why do they insist we go through with it?

“Further, Mr. President, I think we can all agree that we should do everything in our power to provide for our veterans and for our troops.

“November 11 is Veterans Day. I think this Senate ought to honor our veterans and the brave men and women who serve under our country’s flag by sending the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs and Defense appropriations bills to the president’s desk by Veterans Day without any gimmicks or games.

“It’s the least this Congress can do for those who’ve worn the uniform. And it’s the least this Congress can do to meet the minimum threshold of conducting the government’s important business.

“Five weeks and counting, Mr. President. I yield the floor.”

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Recent Press Releases

McConnell on the Nomination of Lt. General James Peake

October 30, 2007

Seven More Years of Tax-Free Internet Access

October 30, 2007

McConnell Calls on Majority to Fund Troops, Veterans by Veterans Day

October 30, 2007