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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that the Senate approved his amendment to add Kentucky State University to the list of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that are eligible to receive funding for their graduate programs. The McConnell measure is included in the Higher Education Act Reauthorization (S. 1642), which passed the Senate today.

Kentucky State enjoys a proud heritage as the Commonwealth’s only HBCU. Chartered by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1886, Kentucky State is one of the 15 original HBCU’s recognized in the historic Morrill Act of 1890.

For several decades, the federal government provided grants to graduate programs at a limited number of HBCU’s that were specifically spelled out in the Higher Education Act. Because Kentucky State University was not included on this list of schools, they were not eligible for this graduate school funding.

“Earlier this year, I was pleased to visit with Kentucky State’s President, Dr. Mary Evans Sias,” said McConnell. “During our meeting, Dr. Sias raised this issue with me and I am glad to help Kentucky State, its students, and its growing graduate programs.”

“Including Kentucky State’s graduate programs in the Higher Education Act will help many generations of students to come,” said Dr. Sias. “It is an understatement to say that I am pleased and I thank Senator McConnell for all his help.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced Tuesday that their legislation to renew sanctions against the Burmese government has passed the Senate. “The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act” now goes to the President for his signature.

The McConnell/Feinstein bill calls for the renewal of sanctions against the Burmese junta, which include an import ban on Burmese goods entering the U.S. and visa restrictions on officials from the regime -- the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

This is the fifth consecutive year that Senators McConnell and Feinstein have worked together to extend the annual ban on imports from Burma.

The McConnell/Feinstein legislation maintains sanctions on the regime until changes are taken by the SPDC – changes that include taking concrete, irreversible steps toward reconciliation and democratization, such as the full, unfettered participation of the National League for Democracy and ethnic minorities in the political affairs of the country; ending attacks on ethnic minorities; and the immediate, unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Today, the United States Senate sent a strong message to the military junta in Burma -- America continues to stand squarely with the people of Burma in their quest for freedom and democracy,” Senator McConnell said.

“Simply put, the military junta in Burma has failed to take any meaningful steps to warrant a lifting of the sanctions,” Senator Feinstein said. “Today, we send a message to the military junta that it must release all political prisoners, including democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and engage in a true national dialogue on restoring democratic government. And we join the international community in signaling to Suu Kyi that we are with her, that she does not stand alone, and we will not remain silent.”

In addition to Senators McConnell and Feinstein, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act had 59 cosponsors. The House passed its version on Monday.

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‘Officers Chestnut and Gibson were brave Americans who stood their ground to ensure that the ceremony of freedom would go on’

Washington, D.C. – U. S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks (as prepared) on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the anniversary of the deaths of Capitol Police Officers J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson:

“From America’s earliest days, bravery has been the essential thing. A group of courageous farmers were the first to stand against the British. The Declaration of Independence was a death warrant for anyone who signed it. The Constitutional Convention took place in a shuttered room. The founders were brave, and they knew bravery would be needed to maintain what they had built.

“As Washington wrote when the veterans of 1776 began to pass away: ‘Thus some of the pillars of the revolution fall. May our country never want props to support the glorious fabric.’

“We remember today two men who supported the glorious fabric of our country. Jacob Joseph Chestnut and John Gibson gave their lives on a Friday afternoon while standing sentry at the gates of this great citadel of liberty. The chambers had fallen silent for the week, staffers were celebrating the passage of a law, tourists were studying old plaques, and the President was getting ready for a weekend trip to his camp when a madman pierced the calm routine of daily life in Washington, and a brave grandfather and young father stood strong against him.

“Their heroism was duplicated by the senator-surgeon who tried to keep the killer and his victims alive, by the British tourist who rushed to one of the victim’s side to hear his last words, by the horde of officers who rushed the gunman. When the flags fell, thousands of Americans called the Capitol to grieve.

“Thousands more showed up here to mourn the fallen officers and to honor the ideals they died for. An act of savagery had roused a nation to mercy and compassion. It was an instinct we would see again on an even darker day three years later.

“We are grateful for the lives of these good men and for their sacrifice. They were not sunshine patriots. They were brave Americans who stood their ground, as Americans so often do, to ensure that the ceremony of freedom would go on. It does. It will. And they will not be forgotten.”

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Recent Press Releases

McConnell Amendment Adds Kentucky State University to the List of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

July 24, 2007

McConnell/Feinstein Burma Sanctions Bill Passes Senate

July 24, 2007

HONORING THE CAPITOL POLICE

July 24, 2007