Congressman García’s Statement on the Passing of Senator Harry Reid

Congressman García's Statement on the Passing of Senator Harry Reid

CHICAGO, IL – Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the passing of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV):

"Today we lost a giant. The passing of Senator Harry Reid, marks the loss of one of the most consequential Senate Leaders in our nation's history. A young man born into poverty who took up boxing to pay for college and later served the night shift as a United States Capitol Police officer to put himself through law school. Senator Reid's unlikely rise to political prominence is an embodiment of the American spirit of dogged perseverance and compassion.

"Senator Reid was a longtime advocate, and friend of the Latino community, and worked to champion immigration reform efforts throughout his career. In 2007, Senator Reid was the sole sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Later, despite a tough re-election campaign, the Senator kept his promise to the undocumented community and brought the DREAM Act to a vote on the Senate floor despite not having sufficient votes to pass the legislation. Finally, in 2013, Senate Majority Harry Reid secured passage of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act in the Senate, which would have provided legal status to all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US including an eventual pathway to citizenship. Even after his retirement from public service, Reid continued to be a vocal advocate for the immigrant community.

"Senator Reid's compassion for his fellow Americans extended far beyond his championing of immigration reform. The Senator was instrumental in the negotiation and passage of the Affordable Care Act, as well as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which helped reverse the economic collapse of 2008. When President George W. Bush tried to privatize Social Security, Harry Reid saved it. Later, he fought Republican efforts to limit aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"He was an incredible politician, but more than that, he was a family man who knew what was most important in life – the service of others. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Landra, his children Rory, Key, Lana, and Leif, and the people he served in Nevada, and all across our country who are grieving the loss of this American patriot and giant of the Senate."

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