‘The upcoming election is no excuse to put off our responsibilities for another day.’



WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks [as prepared] on the Senate floor Monday regarding the need for Congress to complete its most basic duty of funding the government, in addition to passing much-needed energy legislation, before adjourning:



“These past several weeks have been extremely instructive for me, as I’m sure they were for many of my colleagues. I talked directly to a lot of Kentuckians. And not a single one of them suggested that I come back to Washington and do nothing until the November election.



“America faces a number of daunting challenges. Very few of them were unknown to us when we all showed up here in January of 2007. And very few of them have been addressed. But there is still time to do some very significant things in these next weeks. I’m still hopeful that we will.



“We can protect millions of Americans from the Alternative Minimum Tax and extend a host of expired and expiring tax incentives — including the renewable energy tax credits that drive much-needed investment in alternative energy sources like solar and wind. We should come together and agree to a long-term extension of these important tax incentives before the end of the year.



“So far, Congress has been unable to come together on a comprehensive solution to our nation’s energy crisis. But the book hasn’t closed yet on the 110th Congress. There is still time to act on this issue. And we should. We must work to provide much-needed relief for Americans across the country who are struggling with the high price of gas at the pump. Congress can still show that we’re responsive to the needs of the American people by doing something about this crisis now.



“Some might disagree. One senator on the other side recently said that he thinks frustration over the high price of gas, has ‘peaked.’ But I’ve seen no evidence of this at all.



“In fact, I’m confident, after spending the past month away from Washington, that if we did little else these next few weeks but pass a serious response to high gas prices, fund the government, and protect taxpayers, the American People would view these next few weeks as extremely productive.



“Americans want us to act to increase offshore exploration. There is nothing to fear in this. We can and should increase domestic energy exploration even as we encourage the use of alternative energy sources and new conservation measures. There is no good reason we can’t all get behind a balanced approach that would allow us to find more and use less at the same time.



“We also need to do our most basic duty of funding the government by passing appropriations bills.



“Over the last 25 years, no other Congress has failed to pass a single appropriations bill this late in the year. Even the infamous do-nothing Congress of 1948 had passed more than a dozen appropriations bills at this point on the legislative calendar. This is not a record to be proud of. But it’s not a record that has to stand. We still have time to change course. And we should.



“While at war, we have yet to fund the troops, homeland security, and critical domestic programs.



“We have yet to fund veterans’ hospitals, education, transportation and national parks. These are the basics. We should take them on. The upcoming election is no excuse to put off our responsibilities for another day. Americans have held a regularly-scheduled election every two years for more than two centuries. The work of government must go on, regardless of how strong the partisan currents flow. It always has. And it should this year.



“We still have a few more weeks to do right by the American people. Let’s not just mark the time. Let’s make a difference. Let’s do something constructive to help the American people in a difficult economic moment. Let’s put political games aside for a few weeks and do what’s expected of us. This is not too much to ask. And I, for one, remain hopeful that we will rise to the occasion.”



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