Transcript: Senator Schumer Delivers Remarks At A Press Conference Following The Georgia Senate Elections

Washington, D.C. — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today at a press conference discussed the results of the Georgia elections. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Good morning everyone. And what a good morning it is. We sure did not take the most direct path to get here, but here we are. So as I said we didn’t take the most direct path to be here. But we are now here. Here we are. And it feels like a brand new day. For the first time in six years, Democrats will operate a majority in the United States Senate. And that will be very good for the American people.

America is experiencing one of the greatest crises we have ever had in our history and the Senate Democratic majority is committed to delivering the bold change, and help that Americans need and demand. Senate Democrats know America is hurting.

Help is on the way.

And we have two new senators coming to help. One of the first things that I want to do when our new senators are seated is deliver the $2,000 checks to the American families. Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff ran first rate campaigns. They will be outstanding senators for Georgia. When Raphael Warnock was born, both of Georgia senators were segregationists. Yesterday, Georgia just elected its first African American to the United States Senate in its history. And Jon Ossoff has been on the ground, working it for years. He was never daunted, persistent, never gave up. I'm so proud of both their campaigns and so excited to welcome them to the United States Senate. Couldn't come at a better moment.

I also want to especially thank Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto, our amazing chair of the DSCC, and all of the great staff who worked at the DSCC, and a shout out to two members of the DSCC, who right after election day went down to Georgia, spent their Christmas and New Year's holidays there. And that is Christie Roberts and Lauren Passalacqua, our communications director and our political director.

And a great shout out to my dear friend for over a decade, Stacey Abrams and her whole team at Fair Fight Georgia. For 10 years, she and her team, and so many of the women's groups, Black women's groups, worked and worked and worked to change Georgia. Stacey would be the first to tell you she didn't do it alone. So a huge thank you to the many organizations who have been working so hard for so many years just to get this moment.

And of course, none of this would be possible without the hundreds of thousands of organizers and volunteers who put their time sweat and determination into this victory. Organizing during a pandemic is not easy, but you all found a way, and we say thank you.

Now I've already spoken to President Biden this morning, and I pledged to him that as Majority Leader, President Biden, and Vice President-elect Harris will have a partner in me and my caucus, who is ready, willing and able to help achieve a forward looking agenda and deliver bold change to the American people.

For too long, much needed help has been stalled or diluted by a Republican led Senate, and President Trump, that will change with a Democratic Senate, a Democratic House, and a Democratic president.

One of the things I'm most excited about is that we have so much talent in our Democratic Caucus, and all that talent has been bottled up. They haven't really been allowed to participate and put legislation on the floor. Now that is all going to be, all that talent that's been bottled up for so long, will be unleashed, and you'll see amazing things coming out of our new chairs and subcommittee chairs.

They will be able to showcase their talents and accomplish great things. It excites me.

And as a caucus, we will work every single day to reward the faith that the American people have placed in us.

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