Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), released the following statement following the announcement by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) that he will be retiring at the end of his term.
“Senator Harry Reid is a great leader, a true patriot, a friend, and a mentor to me and so many others over the course of his long and storied career. I know he has a lot more he plans to accomplish over the next two years, but the United States Senate will be losing one of its great members when Senator Reid retires.
“In the sixteen years Harry has served as a member of Senate Democratic leadership, he has steadily guided our caucus, the Senate, and Congress through the good times and the tough ones. As Democratic leader since 2005, he has had his finger on the pulse of our caucus like no other. He understands what members need for their constituents, how far they can be pushed when needed, when to hold us all together, and when to encourage us to go our own ways. Like the boxer he once was, Harry knows when to throw a punch, when to keep the gloves up, and although this didn’t happen very often, when to throw in the towel and live to fight to another day.
“All of our children and grandchildren will grow up in a country that is more just, more tolerant, and offers more opportunities because of Harry Reid’s hard work and service to our nation. Without Harry Reid, the Affordable Care Act never would have become law, and millions of Americans would be without health insurance, living in fear of bankruptcy, and unable to make health care choices for their own families.
“As hard as Harry fights for his caucus, he fights even harder for the Nevada families and communities he is so proud to represent. We’ve all heard him talk about his hometown of Searchlight more times than we can remember. And we always know that when it comes to Nevada priorities, Harry is going to fight, and he is usually going to win.
“I owe so much to Harry for everything he has done, and for everything he continues to do, to help me fight for my constituents and for families across the country. He has asked me to take on some tough jobs over the years, but I have always appreciated the trust he placed in me, the work he did to make sure I had the space I needed to get the job done, and the knowledge that, no matter what, Harry had my back and was going to fight for what was right.”
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