Remarks
Currently showing results related to National Security
McConnell Urges Senate To Reject Sanders Resolution, Stand With Israel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “Next year, it will fall to the Republican government the American people elected this month to shore up America’s position in the face of very real and directly linked threats to our interests. “After four years of proposed net cuts to defense spending, it will fall to us to start investing seriously in the sort of hard power… Continue Reading
11.19.24
McConnell Remarks On Hesitation, Half-Measures In U.S. Support for Ukraine
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Ukraine: “This week concluded the latest act in a familiar play on the world stage. “It goes something like this: “First, Russia commits acts of aggression and pounds Ukrainian military and civilian targets with overwhelming force. “Then, Western observers urge their leaders to equip Ukraine’s defenders with decisive countermeasures. “Then, setting asid… Continue Reading
11.13.24
McConnell Receives AEI’s Irving Kristol Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks at the AEI Annual Dinner. Below is the text as prepared for delivery: “[T]hank you to the entire Institute. You do important work that advances important ideas. I’m glad to be with you and I’m deeply honored by this recognition. “I appreciate, in particular, the weight of an award named for such a prolific mind as Irving Kristol’s. “The namesake of this celebration understood better than m… Continue Reading
09.24.24
McConnell: America Faces Simultaneous Threats, Must Resource Accordingly
“Yesterday, the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional U.S. servicemembers to the Middle East. “The proximate cause, of course, is the threat of war on Israel’s northern border. But ongoing Iran-backed attacks against U.S. personnel from the Red Sea to Iraq and Syria offer plenty of reminders that America’s enemies lack neither the resources nor motivation to target us. “Democrats and Republicans alike should recognize that America’s enduring security interests in the Middle East are … Continue Reading
09.16.24
McConnell Remarks On U.S. Interests And Repressive Regimes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “I’ve repeatedly warned colleagues on both sides against setting aside America’s interests in pursuit of closer relations with foreign leaders who they think share their values. “I made it clear to Washington Democrats that whatever kudos the Paris climate deal earned them with European greens, punishing America for producing … Continue Reading
09.12.24
McConnell Highlights NDS Commission Report, Congressional Inaction On Urgent Defense Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “I’d like to begin by reminding our colleagues of a report released before the August state work period. It’s a report Congress commissioned in the FY 2022 NDAA, produced by a panel of experts that Congress appointed - the bipartisan Commission on the National Defense Strategy. “The Commission was tasked with reviewing the Bid… Continue Reading
09.11.24
McConnell On Anniversary Of September 11th Attacks: Cannot Wait For Adversaries To Come To Us
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the September 11 attacks: “Twenty-three years ago today, forces of evil brought their war on the United States to American soil. “They filled a clear blue sky with smoke, fire, and the shattered lives of 2,977 innocent people. “Before the dust had settled, the world witnessed the extraordinary heroism of first responders, the compassion of neighbors and v… Continue Reading
09.09.24
Senate Returns To Glaring Unfinished Business On National Defense
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “The challenges facing an American-led order and American interests around the world are no less serious, nor less connected, than they were the last time the Senate convened. “Last week, Iran was expected to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia in a major expansion of its support for Putin’s war in Ukraine. The PRC is rampin… Continue Reading
08.01.24
McConnell: Senate Must Not Short-Change American Strength
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding defense appropriations: “Today, the Appropriations Committee is considering defense funding for the coming year. “From the outset, colleagues who take seriously our obligation to provide for the common defense knew that they had their work cut out for them. “This spring, the President sent them a fourth straight defense budget request that would cut fundi… Continue Reading
07.30.24
McConnell Remarks On U.S. National Security Interests In The Indo-Pacific
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “I’ve said frequently that the single most important, immediate objective for the free world right now is a Russian defeat in Ukraine. “I mean that. But not just for its implications on trans-Atlantic security or our own economy. Not just because helping degrade a major adversary’s military strength is in America’s interests. … Continue Reading
07.11.24
American People Support Strong American Leadership
“As NATO’s Washington Summit draws to a close today, there’s clearly tremendous resolve among many of our allies to make the trans-Atlantic alliance fit for purpose for another 75 years. “But a strong and effective NATO has always required strong and effective American leadership. And here at home, there’s reason for cautious optimism that support for leadership on collective defense is widespread. “Last month, the Reagan Institute released the findings of its latest poll on the American peopl… Continue Reading
06.17.24
McConnell: Time To Take Up Overwhelmingly Bipartisan NDAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding defense spending: “Last week, the Armed Services Committee voted to recommend a $25 billion-dollar increase to topline defense spending. “In overwhelming, bipartisan fashion, our colleagues rejected a fourth straight budget request from the Biden Administration that failed to keep pace with its inflation, much less with the threat of China. “If this major… Continue Reading
06.13.24
McConnell on NDAA: Can’t Surge Readiness. Time To Invest In Deterrence
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act: “This week, the Armed Services Committee has been marking up the National Defense Authorization Act for the coming year. “In the past, the Committee has prided itself on considering hundreds of amendments and thoroughly exercising Congress’ oversight responsibilities in the process. I expect this year to be no differ… Continue Reading
06.12.24
McConnell: Lack Of Coherent Counterterrorism Strategy Puts America And Our Allies In Danger
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding combatting terrorism: “I’ve spoken before about the Biden Administration’s political obsession with closing the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, even if it means letting terrorist butchers plead out of their just deserts and return to the fight. “Last month, new reports indicated just how close the President was to shipping eleven more terro… Continue Reading
05.21.24
McConnell Remarks To Atlantic Council On Upcoming Washington NATO Summit
“The focus of this gathering - an age of marching authoritarians - is one of urgent importance. Recognizing the threat revisionist powers pose to Western peace and prosperity should already be the price of admission to any serious conversation about U.S. foreign policy. “But the challenge we face today is graver than the sum of its parts. If we acknowledge Russia’s aggressive neo-Soviet imperialism… Iran’s unprecedented promotion of proxy violence… And China’s breakneck race to expand its spher… Continue Reading
05.20.24
McConnell Remarks On Iranian Regime’s Enduring Threats
“Last night, Iran confirmed that its president and foreign minister died in a helicopter crash. The condolences from sympathetic regimes were swift. “The PRC declared that the Chinese people had ‘lost a good friend.’ The Kremlin mourned 'a reliable partner'. And Prime Minister Orban of Hungary - whose government has pursued deeper trade relations with Tehran in spite of Western sanctions - offered his 'thoughts and prayers'. “Well I, too, would like to extend my condolences to the people of Ir… Continue Reading
05.14.24
McConnell Remarks To Copenhagen Democracy Summit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recorded the following remarks for release today at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit: “Hello, I’m Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader of the U.S. Senate. It’s an honor to be speaking to friends and allies at such a pivotal moment. “Today, we’re facing grave threats to the prevailing international order that the United States and allied democracies fought to establish after World War II. “It was a decade ago, as Russ… Continue Reading
05.08.24
McConnell Remarks On Support For Israel, Justice For Terrorists
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “The attacks of October 7th brought the world face-to-face with the savage terrorists who have tried to destroy the Jewish state for decades. “They forced us all to take a sober look at what our ally, Israel, has to defend against every single day. “In the months since, I’ve insisted repeatedly that America should provide Isr… Continue Reading
05.02.24
McConnell: America Faces Grave Threats, Time To Invest Accordingly
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding defense spending: “Last Thursday, the Pentagon announced for the second time in as many weeks that U.S. military personnel would withdraw from years of work on security cooperation with major nations in North Africa. “America has now effectively been pushed out of Chad, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, making more room for Russia and China. “Here at home, a… Continue Reading
04.23.24
McConnell Remarks On The National Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities: “To provide for the common defense is one of Congress’ primary responsibilities. “I’ve been at this business for quite a while, and I’ve found that making - and explaining - sensible decisions about advancing our nation’s interests is easier when you start from the right set of assumptions. “Here’s what I know to be true: “A… Continue Reading
