Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) welcomed Senator Laphonza Butler of California to the Senate and expressed gratitude for her willingness to serve in the wake of the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell stated, “I’d like to begin today by welcoming our newest colleague, Senator Laphonza Butler of California. As the Senate continues to mourn our late friend and colleague, Dianne Feinstein, I know the people of California are grateful for Senator Butler’s willingness to serve. And I know our colleagues join me in welcoming her.”

Turning to other matters, McConnell highlighted the Senate's recent vote to prevent a domestic budget dispute from shutting down the federal government. He emphasized the need for Congress to redouble their efforts on a number of unfinished priorities.

McConnell outlined the Senate's upcoming agenda, stating, “In the coming weeks, the Senate needs to continue making progress on full-year appropriations. And we’ll begin by funding important resources for military construction, veterans’ services, agriculture, housing, and transportation infrastructure.”

The Senate's work also extends to providing additional relief to communities rebuilding after natural disasters, addressing urgent supplemental funding needs, and reining in the Biden Administration's spending and regulations. McConnell emphasized the need to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border.

“On President Biden’s watch, illegal border crossings and asylum claims have stretched the Border Patrol and ICE personnel to their breaking point. Authorities are seizing hundreds of millions of lethal doses of fentanyl. Though they also estimate that they're apprehending just a fraction — roughly a quarter — of all the fentanyl that's smuggled at the border," McConnell said.

McConnell called for the Biden Administration to take commonsense steps to end policies that incentivize illegal immigration across the country. He highlighted the impact of the border crisis on every state, with major cities like New York and Chicago being overwhelmed by arrivals from the southern border.

Additionally, McConnell drew attention to the rising violence in the nation's capital, citing recent incidents including the violent carjacking of Congressman Henry Cuellar. He criticized the soft-on-crime policies of liberal local governments and called for a serious approach to securing the streets.

“American families deserve to feel safe – in their homes, in their neighborhoods, and certainly in their nation’s capital. It shouldn’t take another assault, or carjacking, or homicide to convince left-wing local leaders to start actually doing their jobs,” McConnell concluded.