Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Departing Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to pay tribute to Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, whose skillful negotiation and commitment to bipartisanship helped pass important legislation in the Senate like the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the PACT Act. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today, two of our departing colleagues will deliver their farewell addresses on the floor: Senator Bob Casey and Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

I’ll start with a few words about Senator Sinema.

I was proud to work with her on many different issues, and whenever we did team up together, it was a potent team and we got a lot of good things done. But, as I’m sure Kyrsten would be the first to say, we also disagreed a lot.

Kyrsten is independent – that’s how she’s always been, I respect that. So, whether we agreed or disagreed, I never questioned two things: one, that she cared deeply about her work, and two, that she would always stay true to herself and to the people of Arizona who elected her.

During her time in the Senate, Kyrsten had a hand in passing some of this Majority’s biggest accomplishments: the bipartisan infrastructure law, CHIPS and Science, the PACT Act, the gun safety bill, the Respect for Marriage Act, and others as well.

She was also a trusted negotiator. She has a keen ability to find consensus, even on the toughest issues when it wasn’t easy. But she always kept at it.

Our caucus on numerous occasions partnered with her, usually in crunch time, to work with Republicans to help get bills over the finish line. And that’s when Kyrsten was at her best: when it was time to reach an agreement.

I will always appreciate Kyrsten for her excellent work in these hard moments. I know many Senators on both sides will feel the same.

So, we thank Senator Sinema for her service, her contributions, her commitment to Arizona, and wish her well in whatever comes next.

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