[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5227-S5228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ISSUES BEFORE THE SENATE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I welcome everyone back from what I 
hope was a productive State work period. I am sure I speak for all of 
us when I say that traveling to our States and meeting with those we 
represent is one of the best parts of this job. It is also one of the 
most important. That is because it allows us to hear different 
perspectives on critical issues and reminds us of the real difference 
good policy can make in the lives of the American people.
  From funding the government to supporting our servicemembers and 
taking action on issues such as Zika, we have a lot to get done in this 
upcoming work period. I look forward to working with colleagues on 
these and other important issues in the coming weeks.
  As I mentioned, over the State work period, Senators on both sides 
had opportunities to meet with constituents and talk with them about a 
number of serious problems facing our country. From combating the Zika 
virus to addressing an array of national security challenges, Americans 
such as those I met with back home wanted to know what steps both 
parties are taking to help.
  For our friends across the aisle, that must have been a little bit of 
a difficult conversation. That is because before the work period, 
Senate Democrats filibustered funding to combat Zika and to support 
veterans--not once but twice. They also filibustered funding to provide 
resources for our servicemembers and national defense priorities. It is 
hard to explain why, despite their own calls for funding, Senate 
Democrats decided to block a bill that could help keep pregnant women 
and babies safer from Zika.
  It is also hard to explain why--despite the array of terror attacks 
we have seen across the world--Senate Democrats decided to block a bill 
that could help keep the American people safer from threats like ISIL.
  Our colleagues across the aisle can point to a series of partisan 
excuses, but the bottom line is this: There is no good explanation for 
blocking these public health and national security funding bills.
  Over the summer, there were important steps taken to combat the 
virus. The administration took the guidance of Appropriations Chairmen 
Cochran and Rogers, and with the advocacy of Members such as Senators 
Blunt and Rubio, HHS shifted funds already available to them to 
strengthen our defense against the virus.
  Aerial spraying also started early in August and has produced 
positive results. The CDC Director has said he has been ``impressed by 
the effectiveness'' of the spraying, noting the ``substantial reduction 
in the number of mosquitoes'' in the transmission areas, but

[[Page S5228]]

these issues have certainly not gone away. In fact, this summer brought 
even more cases of Zika, with mosquitos now spreading the virus in some 
counties and health officials issuing travel warnings for pregnant 
women going to Miami.
  This summer also brought with it even more ISIL-inspired or directed 
terror attacks from France to Turkey, as well as more concerns of 
growing aggression from countries like North Korea, which recently 
test-launched another missile.
  These instances from the summer further underscore the urgency of the 
challenges facing us and why it is imperative our colleagues end their 
irresponsible filibusters of these bills.
  So today we will give Senate Democrats another opportunity to follow 
through on their own calls for action on Zika, to support our veterans 
who deserve the treatment and benefits they have earned, and to provide 
for our servicemembers who sacrifice so much to protect the country and 
the people we love.
  I hope our colleagues will join us now to finally end their senseless 
filibusters and help us do our part to address these serious issues.

                          ____________________