Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Retirement Of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the retirement and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Senate Democrats’ intention to have a fair process that moves quickly to confirm President Biden’s nominee when she is announced. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Last Thursday, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announced that after twenty-seven years of service, he will retire from the Supreme Court at the conclusion of this term.
Shortly after his nomination was first announced in 1994, then-judge Breyer mused publicly about what he expected his time on the High Court would bring. He told reporters that it was his hope to “make the average person’s ordinary life better.”
Nearly three decades later, we can safely say that Justice Breyer has met that mark and then some. Throughout American history only 115 individuals have sat on the nation’s high court—and few have served as long, and as effectively, as Justice Breyer.
From his opinion on voting rights, environmental protections, women’s reproductive freedom, and protecting access to affordable health care, Justice Breyer’s impact upon our nation will last for generations. America is a more perfect union today because of Justice Stephen Breyer.
And of course, Justice Breyer’s legacy of service extends beyond even his remarkable time on the Supreme Court.
For 13 years he also sat on the US Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. Before that he served for 8 years as a member of the Army Reserves.
And of course, members of this chamber cannot forget that he was once a part of the Senate itself, serving as an aide on the Judiciary Committee in the 1970s, where he worked closely with our dear friend, the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
At every step of the way he remained his essential self: decent, brilliant, and dedicated to our democracy.
Now, with this new vacancy on the Court, President Biden will have an opportunity to make history by nominating the first-ever black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. I am confident that the President will select an outstanding individual to fill Justice Breyer’s seat, and we intend to move quickly on our constitutional duty to act on his nominee when announced.
I can assure all Senators that the Senate will have a fair process that moves quickly, so we can confirm President Biden’s nominee to fill Justice Breyer’s seat as soon as possible.
Today, the members of this chamber say thank you to Justice Breyer for his lifetime of public service.
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