By Mitch McConnell
Senator, R-Ky.
During the month of August, I traveled across Kentucky meeting with constituents to
hear their concerns, to update them on the Senate’s business and to ask how I can
assist them in Washington. I value the time I spend with my fellow Kentuckians, and
these conversations at home help me serve my constituents in Washington.
I had the opportunity to visit with many hardworking men and women throughout the
Commonwealth and discuss their industry-specific concerns. At the
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), I spoke with workers about
the airport’s incredible growth for both passengers and freight shipment. Earlier
this year, I contacted the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to support CVG’s
application to enhance its air cargo operations at the facility. I’m pleased to see
CVG attracting new airlines and investments, helping to drive the Northern Kentucky
economy.
I also welcomed U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to Louisville to discuss tax
reform, which represents the single most important action we can take to put our
economy back on the right track. We met with community and business leaders to
discuss the legislative process for tax reform and to hear constituents’ priorities
as Congress develops tax relief legislation. After our productive conversation, I
joined Secretary Mnuchin, Governor Matt Bevin and U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie
on a tour of the gold vaults at Fort Knox becoming the first civilians in more than
40 years to go inside. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump,
his team and my colleagues in Congress to fundamentally rethink our tax code to make
taxes lower, simpler and fairer for families and small business and to help provide
more opportunities for American workers.
Combating the scourge of opioid addiction is one of my consistent priorities in
Washington. I participated in a substance abuse roundtable in Louisville with
healthcare professionals and community leaders to hear about their experiences
working with those struggling with addiction. I also spoke with them about “Jessie’s
Law,” which recently passed the Senate with my support. This legislation will allow
addiction history to be included in patients’ medical records to help medical
professionals make better-informed treatment decisions. Additionally, I shared
updates regarding Congress’ efforts to bolster treatment and recovery services and
to strengthen law enforcement tools through federal laws like the Comprehensive
Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act, which I helped shepherd
through Congress last year. I continue to engage with officials in the Trump
Administration on the challenges of opioid addiction as we tackle this national
epidemic from all sides.
During the State Fair, the Kentucky Farm Bureau hosted its annual Country Ham
Breakfast, which is always a great event attended by hundreds of farmers and farm
families from across the Commonwealth. Farmers suffered repeated regulatory assaults
form the previous Administration, and I am proud to work with the Trump
Administration to repair the damage. I am also very appreciative of the importance
of international trade to the Commonwealth’s farmers, and I will continue to engage
the Administration on ways to promote free and fair trade policies that bolster
Kentucky exports. I will keep the concerns of Kentucky’s farmers, including the
death tax, in the foremost of my mind as Congress continues to work on tax reform
and the 2018 Farm Bill.
At a coal stakeholders meeting in Henderson, I heard from miners and community
members. We discussed my work with the Trump Administration to overturn Obama-era
regulations that would have made coal too expensive to mine or use. In Congress, I
will continue to support miners and their families from regulatory attacks on their
livelihoods.
In Lexington, I visited a local non-profit organization dedicated to serving the
city’s homeless population with a special focus on veterans. I admire their mission
to help homeless veterans achieve economic self-sufficiency, and I was grateful to
learn more about what I could do in Washington to help veterans. Our nation is
indebted to those who put their lives at risk to protect our liberties, and I am
grateful that organizations are serving those who have served us.
As the Senate returns to its legislative work, I am honored to continue to serve as
Kentucky’s voice in Washington. The conversations I had across the Commonwealth
during this state work period will help guide me in my work. Moving forward, I hope
you will share your thoughts with me through my website (mcconnell.senate.gov), by
scheduling a meeting, writing a letter or calling my office.
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Mitch McConnell, a Republican, is the senior Senator from Kentucky and the Senate
Majority Leader. He is a senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture, and
Rules Committees.