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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor outlining the September debate on the President’s Iran Deal:

“This September, the Senate will formally weigh in on the nuclear deal struck between the White House and Iran. We’ll take a vote and answer a simple but powerful question: Will the agreement actually make America and its allies safer?

“When we do, the Senate— as an institution— will be put to the test.

“The first test will come in which answer we arrive at.

“Some might take the view that releasing billions of dollars to a state sponsor of terrorism while leaving the regime with thousands of nuclear centrifuges, an advanced research and development program, and the means to improve its full-spectrum warfighting capability would represent an acceptable outcome.

“Those Senators will vote one way.

“Others will say that ending Iran’s nuclear program is worth the necessary exertion of political leadership — leadership to keep the coalition unified, to reveal Iran’s development of ballistic missiles and its support of terrorism, and to resolve IAEA concerns over Tehran’s refusal to allow access to nuclear scientists and facilities — because doing so would be in the best interests of our country and in the best interests of our allies.

“Those Senators will vote a different way.

“In answering this fundamental question, every Senator will reveal his or her view of America’s standing, its leadership, and its capabilities in the modern world. They will demonstrate whether they think these things can and should be brought to bear to defend our interests and to defend against Iran’s aggressive expansion and its threatening nuclear program.

“We know that the next Senate and the next President will continue to be faced with a threat posed by Iran.

“So we should conduct this debate with our eyes on the future.

“This is a critical test.

“But it’s not the only one.

“The other test comes not in which answer we choose, but in how we answer the question.

“Can we join together to conduct a debate worthy of the importance of this agreement?

“Can we call up the resolution and respectfully debate it, without employing delay tactics designed specifically to impede the Senate’s review of such a weighty matter?

“Are Senators willing to focus on a matter of interest to the institution, defer committee activities, and sit in their chairs to truly listen and debate their colleagues on a matter of such significance?

“Nearly every member of both parties voted to have this debate when they passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. Surely Senators wouldn’t then turn around to block a proper debate from even proceeding.

“My hope is that the Senate can reach agreement to call up the appropriate resolution, reach agreement to allow ample time for Senators to express their views, and then proceed to a thorough, thoughtful, and respectful debate.

“Because it’s hard to overstate the importance of what we’re about to consider.

“Our role in the world. Our commitment to our allies and the kind of future we’ll leave our children. It’s all wrapped up in this issue.

“The debate we’ll conduct deserves the appropriate and respectful deliberation that this body was designed to facilitate.

“Every Senator owes as much to this institution, and every Senator owes as much to this country and to the people we serve.

“We may disagree on the first test.

“But we should all agree on the second one.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor urging cooperation on the bipartisan Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act:

“I recently shared an AP news story with my colleagues. I think it’s worth sharing again.

“Here’s the headline: ‘Federal Agencies Are Wide Open to Hackers, Cyberspies.’

“Let me read just a little of what it says.

The federal government, which holds secrets and sensitive information ranging from nuclear blueprints to the tax returns of hundreds of millions of Americans, has for years failed to take basic steps to protect its data from hackers and thieves, records show. In the latest example, the Office of Personnel Management is under fire for allowing its databases to be plundered by suspected Chinese cyberspies in what is being called one of the worst breaches in U.S. history. OPM repeatedly neglected to implement basic cybersecurity protections, its internal watchdog told Congress.

“This should worry every one of us, Democrat and Republican alike.

“AP referred to the massive cyberattack that recently struck the Obama Administration as ‘one of the worst breaches in U.S. history.’

“But while that massive breach may have been ‘one of the worst,’ it certainly — unless the Administration can be rescued from the cybersecurity Dark Ages — won’t be the last.

“And so, the Senate will be considering bipartisan cybersecurity legislation this week that would help the public and private sectors defeat cyberattacks. The modern tools it contains, through the sharing of threat information, would provide for the construction of stronger cyber-defenses.

“The top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee says this bipartisan bill would also protect ‘individual privacy and civil liberties.’ She’s right. It contains strong measures to limit the use, retention, and diffusion of consumers’ personal information. Information-sharing with the government would also be voluntary under this bipartisan legislation.

“No wonder my colleague from California joined virtually every other Democrat and every other Republican to endorse this bipartisan bill overwhelmingly in committee, 14 to 1.

“No wonder this bipartisan bill is backed by a diverse coalition of supporters too, everyone from the Chamber of Commerce to farm supply stores to your local community bank.

“This is a strong, bipartisan, transparent bill that’s been meticulously vetted by both parties in committee and that’s been available online for months for anyone to read.

“My friend the Democratic Leader has also publicly declared that the Senate could finish this bill ‘in a couple of days’.

“‘In a couple of days,’ he said, ‘at the most.’

“So, with cooperation, we can pass the bipartisan bill this week.

“There will also be an opportunity for members of both parties to offer amendments. I urge colleagues who wish to do so to begin working with the bill managers now.

“This legislation is the work of many members. I mentioned Ranking Member Feinstein earlier, who’s been a key player on this issue. I also want to thank Chairman Burr for his strong leadership and for his hard work across the aisle in developing this bipartisan bill.

“I urge the Senate to allow us to act and pass it this week.

“The House of Representatives has already passed two similar White House-backed cybersecurity bills.

“The sooner we pass ours, the sooner we can conference with the House to finally get a good cybersecurity law on the books — and the sooner our country can better protect more Americans from these types of attacks.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding legislation that would redirect federal Planned Parenthood funds:

“The revelations we’ve seen from Planned Parenthood are deeply disturbing.

“They raise real fundamental questions about what kind of society we want to be.

“I thank Senators Ernst, Paul, Lankford, and a number of others for accepting my invitation to lead the effort on the Senate’s response. The legislation they worked to develop is all about restoring America’s commitment to care and compassion.

“It would fund women’s health, not Planned Parenthood.

“And we’ll take a vote to advance it tonight.

“Instead of subsidizing a political group, this bill would protect federal funding for health services for women.

“Instead of subsidizing a political group, this bill would ensure funds continue to flow to community health centers and hospitals that provide more comprehensive health services — and have many more facilities nationwide.

“And instead of subsidizing a political group, this bill would help women receive health services like screenings, prenatal and postnatal care, well-child care, diagnostic laboratory and radiology services, immunizations, and other care they need.

“That’s a true commitment to women’s health.

“That’s real compassion.

“I know Democrats have relied on Planned Parenthood as an ally recently.

“But they must be moved by the horrifying images we’ve seen.

“They must be shocked by the utter lack of compassion that’s been on display.

“They must care about women’s health as least as much as they care about some scandal-plagued political organization.

“That’s why, tonight, I’m asking them to truly reflect on what’s important.

“I’m asking them not to block this funding for women’s health, just to protect some political group mired in scandal.

“Women deserve better. Our country deserves better.”

Recent Press Releases

McConnell Calls for ‘Thorough, Thoughtful and Respectful’ Senate Debate on Iran Nuclear Agreement

August 4, 2015

Bipartisan Cybersecurity Bill Would Help Public, Private Sectors Defeat Cyberattacks

August 4, 2015

Senate Bill Would Fund Women’s Health, Not Scandal-Plagued Planned Parenthood

'Instead of subsidizing a political group, this bill would ensure funds continue to flow to community health centers and hospitals that provide more comprehensive health services — and have many more facilities nationwide.’

August 3, 2015