McConnell: Next spending bill must include full-year military spending

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he won’t support any more temporary spending measures that do not include full-year funding for the military.

“I can say with total confidence that the House and Senate will not be passing another continuing resolution without defense spending for the rest of the year,” McConnell said during a colloquy Wednesday with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on the Senate floor.

The House on Tuesday approved legislation financing the government for three weeks. The Senate is expected to take that bill up Thursday.

“I don’t intend to support another continuing resolution that does not contain the full year defense appropriations bill,” said McConnell. “I think everyone understands the urgency of that.” 

McCain said he hoped the House understood it would have to fully fund the Defense Department in the next spending measure it approves.

“I hope the message is transmitted to our friends on the other side of Capitol that they shouldn’t send over a continuing resolution that does not fund defense spending for the rest of the year,” said McCain.

Following the colloquy, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) added that she believes funding for the full year ought to be provided for the Department of Homeland Security as well.