List Of Accomplishments Keeps Growing
Water Infrastructure, FAA Reauthorization, And Landmark Opioids Bill Are Latest Additions To The Accomplishments Of The 115th Congress
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “Earlier this year, the president challenged us to seriously address our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. In Congress, we’ve wasted no time on working to tackle this challenge in a bipartisan way. Here are just a few highlights. The funding bill for fiscal year 2018 included a $21 billion increase in infrastructure funding. We continued to build on that significant commitment in our historic return to a regular appropriations process for fiscal 2019. Just last week, we passed the longest FAA reauthorization in more than three decades -- on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. And this week, we have the chance to keep the momentum going and advance another major victory for American infrastructure by passing America’s Water Infrastructure Act.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 10/09/2018)
The Major Accomplishments Of The 115th Congress
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: Answered President Trump’s call to address the nation’s water infrastructure by authorizing the Army Corps to construct, expedite, modify, or study more than 100 water resource projects - that will grow the economy, cut red tape, and keep communities safe.
TAX REFORM: Reformed America’s tax code for the first time in 31 years - putting more money in the pockets of American families and creating more opportunity for them and their children.
TRANSFORMING THE COURTS: Confirmed President Trump’s judicial nominees at a historic pace –69 total, including Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, 26 circuit judges, and 41 district court judges.
APPROPRIATIONS: Provided certainty to the American people with a restored regular order appropriations process by passing 9 of 12 appropriations bills through the Senate and sending 5 of those bills to the President’s desk – enacting the most on-time appropriations bills in 22 years and funding 75% of the government on schedule.
FAA BILL: Passed a five-year authorization bill to modernize airport infrastructure, improve service for the flying public, enhance transportation safety and security, and boost aviation industry innovation.
LANDMARK OPIOID LEGISLATION: Combatting the nation’s worst public health crisis with a package of proposals, including stopping fentanyl at the border and spurring development of new non-addictive painkillers.
FUNDING TO COMBAT OPIOID ABUSE: Enacted ‘a multibillion-dollar boost’ to combat a nationwide epidemic.
DRUG PRICE TRANSPARENCY: Passed legislation to ban the use of “gag clauses,” an industry practice that concealed lower prescription drug prices from patients at the pharmacy and caused consumers to needlessly overpay.
FARM BILL: Working to provide farmers and ranchers with the certainty and predictability they deserve with Senate passage of a critical Farm bill.
DEFENSE: Restoring America’s defense with the greatest investment in the military in decades, including the largest troop pay raise in nearly ten years, to help further modernize the U.S. military.
VETERANS: Delivered real reform and real choice to American veterans with the VA MISSION Act, modernized the veterans appeals process, reformed G.I. bill benefits and further improved VA accountability. Also provided the largest funding increase in history for veterans care and services, and to modernize the VA’s electronic health record system.
SAFE MEDICATIONS: Reauthorized the FDA programs that ensure safe and effective medications can help patients by getting to market.
REGULATORY REFORM: Used Congressional Review Act (CRA) a record-setting 16 times to roll back Obama-era regulations.
EDUCATING AMERICA’S WORKFORCE: Enacted a law to provide better education and training to help expand career opportunities for American workers.
ENERGY: Opened one of the largest untapped conventional oilfields in North America, in Alaska, to help keep energy affordable.
BANKING REFORM: Provided Main Street borrowers and lenders relief from burdensome Dodd-Frank red tape for the first time.
HOPE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL: Provided terminally ill patients access to experimental treatments (Right to Try legislation).
FIGHTING SEX TRAFFICKING: Enacted the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA) to combat trafficking.
OBAMACARE: Repealed the individual mandate tax that forced Americans to buy something many didn’t want or couldn’t afford, and ended IPAB.
FIGHTING TERRORISM: Enacted the Taylor Force Act to disincentivize payments to terrorists.
SANCTIONS: Imposed on Iran, Russia, and North Korea.
REINING IN THE REGULATORS: Changed the balance of numerous boards and commissions from Democrat to Republican control, including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN: Enacted the longest S-CHIP extension in history.
SCHOOL SAFETY: Enacted Fix NICS and STOP School Violence Act to help protect America’s children from gun violence.
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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Related Issues: Veterans, FAA, Opioid Abuse, Congressional Review Act, Farm Bill, Judicial Nominations, Combating Sex Trafficking, North Korea, Energy, Taxes, Regulations, Tax Reform, National Security, America's Military, Russia, Back to Work, Health Care, Appropriations, Iran, Obamacare
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