Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Advancing The Nomination Of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson To The Supreme Court

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor after the Senate voted on the motion to discharge the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court last night. Full Senate consideration of the nomination will take place this week. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Last night, we took our first steps here on the Senate floor towards confirming the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court.

By virtue of a motion to discharge, Judge Jackson’s nomination was put on the floor by a bipartisan vote of 53-47. She now comes to the floor for consideration by the whole chamber.

Every day we move closer to Judge Jackson’s confirmation, the case and likelihood of her confirmation grows stronger and stronger and stronger and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have approached this process with good faith.

At the end of the day, it will be our courts—and the American people who rely on our courts—who will benefit most from having an amazing jurist like Judge Jackson elevated to the pinnacle of the federal judiciary.

Here is what happens next: later today, I am going to take the next step for moving forward with Judge Jackson’s nomination by filing cloture on her. My colleagues should be advised we may have to take some procedural votes to do so, but this will not affect the ultimate result of this confirmation process.

Once I file cloture, the stage will be set for the Senate to close debate on Judge Jackson’s nomination by Thursday. A vote on final confirmation will then follow.

The Senate could then vote to confirm Judge Jackson as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as soon as this Thursday. As soon as this Thursday. I hope we can work together to make that happen.

What better way to wrap up this productive, largely bipartisan work period than by confirming this most worthy, most qualified, most historic nominee to the Supreme Court?

Yesterday I said something that I think is worth emphasizing all week long: Judge Jackson’s nomination is a joyous and momentous occasion for the Senate. She is truly one of the most qualified and accomplished individuals ever considered by this chamber to the Supreme Court. She will bring a new and much-needed perspective to the Court’s work while also affirming the rule of law and respect for precedent.

And as I said yesterday, the confirmation of the nation’s first Black Woman to the highest court in the land will resonate for the rest of our nation’s history. Untold millions of kids will open textbooks and see pictures of Justice Jackson and understand, in a new way, what it means to move towards a more Perfect Union. It means that for all our nation’s struggles, for all the steps forward and steps backwards, the long march of our democracy is towards greater opportunity and representation for all.

So when the Senate finishes its work this week, Justice Jackson will be the first of many. The first of many. Her brilliance, her lifetime of hard work, her remarkable story will light a flame of inspiration for the next generation to hopefully chart their own path for serving our democracy and unleash so much talent that has thus far not been utilized.

This gives me great hope. That should give all of us great hope.

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