McConnell: Dems Must Follow Through on Border Security Promise

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised the deal that will end the government shutdown but cautioned that Democrats need to hold up their end of the bargain.

"I was glad to see today the president's announcement that he and our Democratic colleagues have reached an agreement that will immediately reopen the government while providing the room to negotiate a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security," McConnell said on the Senate floor shortly after Trump announced that a deal had been struck.

"Going forward, I hope our Democratic friends will stay true to the commitment they've stated constantly over the past weeks, that once government was reopened, they'd be perfectly willing to negotiate in good faith on a full-year government funding [bill] that would include a significant investment and urgently needed border security measures, including physical barriers."

McConnell pointed out that the deal will only reopen the government for three weeks, during which time a bipartisan group of senators and representatives is expected to hash out a deal for border security that would include money for a border fence.

"The days ahead will tell us whether our Democratic colleagues are actually serious about securing our nation, whether they actually mean what they say," McConnell said.

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