Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this week our Nation will honor the memory of a brave Kentuckian. President Trump will posthumously award 1LT Garlin Murl Conner with our Nation's highest military distinction, the Medal of Honor.

In 1941 Garlin left his farm town in Clinton County, KY. This quiet 21-year-old enlisted in the Army. When he returned, after World War II service that spanned eight major campaigns and earned a battlefield commission, four Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, and the Distinguished Service Cross, he was a hero.

Lieutenant Conner wasn't supposed to be in a snow-covered forest that January morning in 1945. He was meant to be recovering in a hospital. But with his unit in need, he snuck away and returned to the front in France. When he rejoined his comrades, they were in urgent danger, pinned down by six German tanks. Lieutenant Conner stepped forward. He took a telephone, a radio, and a wire reel and ran toward the enemy alone--totally alone.

Past the American line, in a ditch barely large enough to cover him, Lieutenant Conner began directing artillery against the approaching enemy. He held his ground through wave after wave of German advances. When the enemy surged, even coming within feet of him, he called in artillery strikes on his own position.

Amazingly, when the dust settled, Lieutenant Conner was still alive, and Allied artillery had destroyed the German tanks and stopped the advance. On that frigid morning, in complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Conner saved the lives of his comrades.

This afternoon I will have the privilege to welcome Ms. Pauline Conner, Garlin's wife of more than 50 years, and other family members to the Capitol. Without Pauline's patience and steadfast resolve, there would be no recognition tomorrow.

After the war, Lieutenant Conner demurred any sort of personal glory. With the humility that is typical among the Greatest Generation, he returned to his farm and planned to leave the war behind him. Later in life, he took it upon himself to meet privately with his fellow veterans and their families, offering comfort and advice.

One day late in Lieutenant Conner's life, a former Army Green Beret named Richard Chilton came to their home to ask about his late uncle, who had served with him in Europe. He saw all of Garlin's decorations and medals and urged Pauline to apply for the Medal of Honor. That was the first step. The path wasn't easy--filing paperwork, finding eyewitness accounts, gathering support from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, generals, and even Members of Congress. It was my privilege to join Pauline's team when they contacted my office over a decade ago. There were setbacks, even a Federal court ruling, but Pauline and her team pushed forward. Her long journey will finally end in victory when the Commander in Chief entrusts her with Garlin's Medal of Honor tomorrow. I am grateful to President Trump, Secretary Mattis, and Secretary Esper for recognizing this deserving Kentuckian.

I am proud to congratulate Pauline and her family today, and I would like to thank her for giving our Nation the opportunity to salute 1LT Garlin Murl Conner. He embodied the highest values of our Commonwealth and of our Nation, but this humble man never called himself a hero. So it is incumbent upon us to do just that.

Now, Mr. President, on a completely different matter, this afternoon our colleagues will vote to pass the first 3 of 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019. When they do, the Senate will be putting more common sense back into the appropriations process. This hasn't come easily. But thanks to the leadership of Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Leahy, the process thus far has been governed by level-headed bipartisanship.

I am optimistic the same will be true for the nine remaining appropriations measures. Great progress has already been made at the committee level, and I look forward to considering more legislation on the floor soon.

It is particularly fitting that after the passage of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for 2019 and historic veterans legislation earlier this year, the first group of appropriations bills includes much needed resources for the VA and for military construction projects. This minibus also includes funding under the Energy and Water title for critical maintenance of America's ports and waterways infrastructure, for groundbreaking research on energy development and efficiency, and for improvements to the safety, security, and readiness of our nuclear arsenal.

Our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, in particular these subcommittee chairmen--Senators Alexander, Boozman, and Daines--have earned our support. This is worthy legislation. I look forward to passing it today.

Farm Bill

Then, we will turn to another major priority--the farm bill. Under Chairman Roberts' leadership, along with Ranking Member Stabenow, the Agriculture Committee has continued its tradition of addressing the needs of America's farmers and ranchers with the serious bipartisanship they deserve.

Today the needs are great. In the face of declines in farm income, growers and producers need certainty and stability, and that is what this bill would help to provide. The committee reported the farm bill to the full Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. This week we will have a chance to pass the bill in the same fashion.

On behalf of the farmers in my home State of Kentucky and around the country, I hope each Senator will take advantage of this opportunity.

Tax Reform

Now, Mr. President, on one final matter, week after week the evidence continues to mount that tax reform and the rest of the Republicans' pro-growth, pro-family agenda is helping to reinvigorate our economy and to set the stage for long-term job and wage growth. Just today, CNBC is reporting that the percentage of Americans who say the economy is good or excellent is the highest they have ever recorded in the survey's 10-year history.

But amidst all of the headlines of long-term investments, business expansions, and this favorable economic climate, it is important to remember also all of the immediate ways the tax cuts themselves have already meant direct relief for middle-class American families. Our historic tax reform, which every single Democratic Senator opposed, lowered income tax rates, doubled the standard deduction, and increased the child tax credit. It has given employers the flexibility to immediately pass savings along to their employees in the form of tax reform bonuses, pay raises, and new benefits. It has allowed major utility companies to forego planned rate hikes and, in cases, actually cut the energy prices customers pay.

Every one of these provisions equals real money that will remain in the hands of middle-class families, instead of being shipped off to the IRS. Every one of these and all the other components of tax reform are major improvements that every single Democrat in the House and in the Senate voted against.

Now, if Democratic leaders are serious about wanting to repeal tax reform, the tax cuts that are making it all possible would be right back on the chopping block. Tax cuts used to be a bipartisan affair, but not these days. Republicans will continue to stand up for the American people and help them keep more of their hard-earned money.

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