Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Swearings-In Of Adam Schiff And Andy Kim As United States Senators

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to welcome the newest Senate Democrats, Senator Adam Schiff of California and Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey, as they take their oath of office today. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today, two of our newest Senate Democratic colleagues will take the oath of office: the next Senator from California, Adam Schiff, and the next Senator from New Jersey, Andy Kim.

I congratulate and welcome Senators-elect Schiff and Kim to the Senate. Today, Senate Democrats add two high-ranking, high-caliber leaders who already have great reputations in the House, where they got a whole lot done.

Senator-elect Schiff brings to the Senate an impressive record as a leading voice among House Democrats, where he was known for his piercing eloquence, his thoughtfulness, his unwavering support of democracy, and his courage. As former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, he brings deep expertise and knowledge that will make him just a great Senator.

Senator-elect Kim is no different: he’s one of the most respected and admired members of the House Democratic Caucus, where his talent was only matched by his decency. He boasts an impressive record of service as a national security expert and diplomat, and spent every day in Congress putting families first.

And today will go down in Senate history: Senator-elect Kim’s parents came to America without knowing a soul, and today their son becomes the first Korean-American Senator ever. That makes me proud to be an American.

So, to our new colleagues, we say welcome. We are excited to work with you. We are ready to help you. And as you find your bearings, we urge you to never lose sight of the great responsibility you carry as a member of this body. 

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