Press Releases

‘Congress must reaffirm its commitment to an invigorated Colombia and, in the process, help our own economy at a difficult economic moment’

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the Colombia Free Trade Agreement:

“Today the Administration sought to strengthen America’s ties with an already-close ally by moving forward with the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Now it’s up to Congress to pass this important legislation.

‘As U.S. soldiers and Marines return home, they can be proud of the work they have done these last months. In addition to a decrease in violence, U.S. forces have paved the way for a corresponding increase in the size and the scope of the Iraqi Security Forces’

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the President’s remarks on the Petraeus-Crocker recommendations:

The Speaker of the House is setting a dangerous and indefensible precedent for future negotiations, McConnell says; Unprecedented action will likely ‘give aid and comfort to the corrosive anti-American regime of Hugo Chavez’

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Thursday regarding the House Democrats unilateral and unprecedented rule change to avoid a vote on a bipartisan trade agreement with a key Latin American ally:

Insufficient Progress on Judicial Confirmations

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding insufficient progress in confirming judicial nominees:

“It’s been 108 days since this Senate confirmed a federal judge of any kind. It last did so the week before Christmas, on December 18, 2007.

“Since then, the Senate has made precious little progress on judicial nominations.

U.S. Senator Jim Bunning today issued the following statement opposing the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 that was approved in the Senate by a vote of 84-12.

"The bill approved by the Senate today does nothing to keep people in their homes and it will not solve the crisis at hand. In fact, the bill will encourage foreclosures.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky State Corrections Commission to serve for terms expiring Feb. 17, 2011:  read more »

FRANKFORT, KY – Gov. Steve Beshear today signed into law four bills passed by the current session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The new laws include measures relating to corporation income tax and limited liability entity tax, changes relating to plastic container labeling requirements, long-term care insurance and trauma care.  read more »

‘Like most Americans, I’m eager to hear what General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have to say about military and political progress in Iraq. These men have spent decades mastering their respective professional fields. They deserve our respect’

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the Petraeus-Crocker hearings:

FRANKFORT, KY – Gov. Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died April 6 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

FRANKFORT, KY (April 8, 2008) – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Bluegrass District Community Technical College Board of Directors to serve for terms expiring Oct. 15, 2013:  read more »

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Advisory Board for Veterans’ Affairs:  read more »

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky Arts Council to serve for terms expiring Feb. 1, 2012:  read more »

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed Evelyn C. Tolliver to serve as a member of the State Supported Living Council.

As Prepared For Delivery:

Thank you, Mr. President.

This is a unusually bad bill, and I have opposed it from the start.

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services to serve for terms expiring Sept. 19, 2011:  read more »

‘Americans don’t want a bailout for speculators and those who tried to game the system at everyone else’s expense. So this is a targeted bill that will help homeowners in the short-term without jeopardizing the long-term economy.’

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the bipartisan housing legislation:

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed Connie Lawson to serve as a member of the Commission on Fire Protection Personnel Standards and Education to represent mayors across the state.

Lawson is currently the mayor of the City of Richmond. He is also the co-owner of Don Foster Realtors, Inc. Lawson has served as city commissioner of Richmond and as president of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

U.S. Senators Jim Bunning, Debbie Stabenow, and Evan Bayh today introduced legislation, the China Currency Manipulation Act of 2008, that will put a stop to currency manipulation by China that is distorting international trade and creating a threat to the global economy. All three Senators also expect to work together in the near future to strengthen the trade remedies in Senate currency legislation reported by the Senate Finance and Banking Committees last summer.

WASHINGTON, D.C – H. Barlow of Cave City has been nominated by President Bush to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Board of Education Sciences, U.S. Rep.  read more »

U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) officially opened today’s session of the U.S. House of Representatives and paid tribute to Dr. French Harmon of the First Baptist Church Somerset, who, in turn, gave the opening prayer.