Al Franken: “before I begin my remarks on Judge Gorsuch, I just want to take a minute to talk about the chemical attack in Syria.…”

“before I begin my remarks on Judge Gorsuch, I just want to take a minute to talk about the chemical attack in Syria. Words cannot describe these vicious attacks against civilians. We have all seen the horrific footage of the victims, many of whom were children. These are innocent men, women, and children who, through no fault of their own, are caught in the middle of a bloody civil war, stuck between a brutal regime, armed groups, and foreign powers. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. The world has come together and unequivocally condemned these acts and their perpetrators. We must work together to find a path toward peace and stability in Syria, and the United States must take a leadership role in that effort. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. After meeting with the nominee, carefully reviewing his record, and questioning him during his confirmation hearing, I have come to the conclusion that elevating Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court's bench would merely guarantee more of the same from the Roberts Court--a sharply divided, already activist Court that routinely sides with powerful corporate interests over the rights of average Americans. I think it is important to start by acknowledging just exactly how it is that Judge Gorsuch came to be before the Senate; namely, this body's failure to fulfill one of its core functions.…”