McConnell: Inexcusable that Senate Democrats Continue to Block National Defense and Anti-Zika Efforts
‘Last night, Senate Democrats blocked critical funding — for veterans, for pregnant mothers and babies, and for service members. It’s not the first or the even the second time they’ve put partisan politics ahead of the health and safety of the American people. It’s now the third time.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today after Senate Democrats once again blocked the compromise conference report for anti-Zika efforts and support for our national defense, veterans:
“Last night, Senate Democrats blocked critical funding — for veterans, for pregnant mothers and babies, and for service members. It’s not the first or the even the second time they’ve put partisan politics ahead of the health and safety of the American people. It’s now the third time.
“Why Democrats would filibuster critical funding for Zika control — at a time when cases are growing — is inexplicable.
“Why Democrats would filibuster critical funding for defense — at a time when threats are growing — is inexcusable.
“In case colleagues across the aisle have missed it, here’s the latest on the spread of Zika.
“There are now more than 2,700 cases in the U.S.
“More than 30 of those are likely local mosquito-borne cases.
“Yet, instead of acting with urgency to approve funding to combat Zika, Democrats have chosen once again to filibuster it.
“And in case colleagues across the aisle have missed this too, here’s the latest on the global challenges facing us.
“North Korea continues to show signs of aggression with its recent test launch of another missile.
“Iran continues to provoke our ships in the Persian Gulf, actions the commander of U.S. Central Command called “very concerning.”
“And ISIL continues to inspire and call for terror attacks around the globe, from a wedding in Turkey to a church in France to a nightclub in Orlando.
“Yet, instead of acting with urgency to approve funding to confront these threats, Senate Democrats have chosen once again to filibuster this defense bill as well.
“It really makes you scratch your head when the Democratic Leader boasts of how he's led such a "cooperative minority."
“In what sense?
“Democrats have used the filibuster to blow up a bipartisan appropriations process two years in a row now.
“They’ve bragged openly about their “Filibuster Summer” strategy…they’ve filibustered to protect executive overreach that even fellow Democrats claimed to oppose…they’ve even filibustered legislation designed to help the victims of modern-day slavery, if you can believe that.
“Now, once again, they're filibustering to block funding for Zika-control, for veterans, and for our men and women in uniform.
“We hear the Democratic Leader say he wants his party to do away with the filibuster if Democrats win back control of the Senate.
“If he's so concerned about its abuse, maybe he should stop abusing it himself.
“Stop filibustering critical resources for Zika. Stop filibustering help for veterans. Stop filibustering the funding our men and women in uniform count on.”
Related Issues: Iran, Health Care, ISIL, Senate Democrats, North Korea, National Security, America's Military, Appropriations
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