WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor in which he announced he was beginning proceedings to consider legislation addressing the President’s recent immigration overreach: 

“Democrats voted today to continue blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security, to protect actions President Obama referred to himself as ‘ignoring the law.’

“This vote came after a federal judge enjoined the Administration from moving ahead with that overreach. I was glad to see that decision. The issue will continue winding its way through the courts.

“In the meantime, Congress is trying to do what it can. And yet, even Democrats who’d previously been critical of the President, quote, ‘ignoring the law,’ voted again today to defend his overreach.

“Some Democrats give the impression they want Congress to address the overreach. But when they vote, they always seem to have an excuse for supporting actions they once criticized. So I’m going to begin proceedings on targeted legislation that would only address the most recent overreach from November. It isn’t tied to DHS’ funding. It removes their excuse.

“This is our colleagues’ chance to do exactly what they led their constituents to believe they’d do: defend the rule of law, without more excuses.

“Now, my preference is still to debate and pass the funding legislation that’s currently before us. It’s already passed the House. It’s the simplest and easiest way forward. And if Democrats think it needs to be amended, I’m sure they’ll try to do that.  They just need to let us bring it to the floor first.

“But as long as Democrats continue to prevent us from even doing that, the new bill I described offers another option we can turn to. It’s another way to get the Senate unstuck from a Democrat filibuster and move the debate forward.”