Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his very careful scrutiny of Judge Gorsuch and for participating…”

“I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his very careful scrutiny of Judge Gorsuch and for participating with us tonight. It gives me great privilege to join with the distinguished Congresswoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) to be able to really articulate what is at stake with the potential for Gorsuch to be the ninth member of the United States Supreme Court. As I do that, allow me to offer a personal note of sympathy to my hometown, to the Constable's Office, in the shooting and death of Chief Clinton Greenwood, to his family for his tragic death, and to acknowledge the service that he has given in many, many ways as a law enforcement officer and attorney committed to the implementation of the law. My sympathy goes to his family and to his colleagues. I also want to acknowledge the tragedy in Russia and the loss of life, which indicates how close all of us are around the world and that we should be committed to the fight against terrorism, wherever it may be. If I might, I applaud the Democratic Senators, in this instance, in the other body to express my appreciation for taking a fight that many would be critical of. Now, that fight I don't put in the context of politics or partisanship. I have not heard one Senator who is opposing Judge Gorsuch and is not supporting or participating in the filibuster mention one word about the political elections or the process that occurred in 2016.…”