Recent Press Releases

Senators File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case Challenging Obama Administration’s Immigration Executive Actions

Obama Administration’s Actions Stand ‘In Stark Contravention of Federal Law’ And Are ‘An Explicit Effort To Circumvent The Legislative Process’ On Immigration

April 4, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) led a group of 43 Senate Republicans today in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of a challenge by a majority of the nation’s governors and attorneys general of the states, led by the State of Texas, to the Obama Administration’s November 2014 executive actions on immigration.

The Supreme Court took up this case (United States of America vs. State of Texas) after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in November of 2015 affirmed a preliminary injunction by a federal district court in Brownsville, Texas blocking the Obama Administration from moving forward with its executive actions on immigration that are in violation of federal law. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on this case on April 18th.

“Given that the Executive has asserted that the acts challenged here are not even subject to judicial review, what is at stake in this matter is nothing less than an effort to supplant Congress’s constitutional power to ‘establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization.’ Such an action stands in stark contravention to federal law and to the constitutional principle of the separation of powers,” the Senators’ amicus brief states. “There is little doubt that the Executive adopted the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (‘DAPA’) program as part of an explicit effort to circumvent the legislative process.”

The 43 Senators who joined the amicus brief are Senators Alexander, Barrasso, Blunt, Boozman, Capito, Cassidy, Coats, Cochran, Corker, Cornyn, Cotton, Crapo, Cruz, Daines, Enzi, Fischer, Graham, Grassley, Hatch, Hoeven, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Lankford, Lee, McCain, McConnell, Moran, Paul, Perdue, Risch, Roberts, Rounds, Rubio, Sasse, Scott, Sessions, Shelby, Sullivan, Thune, Tillis, Vitter, and Wicker.

The amicus brief can be found HERE.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced today that he has named Phil Maxson to serve as his Legislative Director in his personal office. Phil, a Lexington, Kentucky native, will replace Jennifer Kuskowski who will be taking a new position as Senior Policy Advisor on the majority staff of the Senate Finance Committee.

Phil previously served as Policy Advisor and oversaw the appropriations portfolio for the office as the Director of Projects. Phil also handled the defense and military legislative affairs for the office, including the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Fort Campbell, Fort Knox and the Blue Grass Army Depot. As Legislative Director, Phil will oversee all legislative matters for Senator McConnell’s Kentucky office and will help manage the policy staff. He will continue to communicate daily with Kentuckians and meet with them while in the Commonwealth and the Nation’s Capital.

"Phil has done a fantastic job over the past several years making sure Kentucky's priorities are known to all the key staff on Capitol Hill. He's earned my trust, and I’m confident that his diligence, good nature, and smarts will continue to serve my constituents well in this important new role,” Senator McConnell said.

The change will officially take place on Monday, April 4, 2016.

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The Attacks in Brussels

‘Our nation stands in solidarity with the people of Belgium and we will renew our determination to prevent more senseless violence against the innocent.’

March 22, 2016

LOUISVILLE, KY –– U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Tuesday regarding the terrorist attacks in Brussels:

“Americans are saddened and horrified by the attacks in Brussels. We send our collective condolences to the victims and their families and we are thinking of the Belgian people in this dark hour.

“Defeating ISIL, al Qaeda and its affiliates will require concerted action by the military, our intelligence community, and our international partners. Our nation stands in solidarity with the people of Belgium and we will renew our determination to prevent more senseless violence against the innocent.”