Just over 18 years after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate, Bob Casey took the floor for the last time Wednesday to deliver his farewell speech.
“I rise today for the last time as a United States Senator with a heart full of gratitude,” Casey said.
During his more than 20-minute speech, which came more than a month after his own loss by just 15,000 votes to Republican Dave McCormick, Casey reflected on his career in public service, the accomplishments he will remember fondly and the challenges he believes the chamber will face in the future.
Casey said his mother, the delayed Ellen Harding Casey, often reminded him to “count his blessings” and thanked the people of Pennsylvania for electing him to public office for nearly three decades.
Casey, son of the delayed Gov. Bob Casey, has served 28 consecutive years in public office: as state auditor general, state treasurer and U.S. senator. He was rushing to victory in 2006 regarding incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum and served three terms in the chamber.
Casey, the longest-serving Democratic senator in Pennsylvania history, thanked his family, the men and women behind the scenes of the U.S. Senate and the Capitol Police officers, saying many of them “will never receive the praise or recognition you deserve, but the work you do , is necessary and a great service to our nation.”
“I am proud of the work we have done together on behalf of Pennsylvanians, fighting for our children, seniors, people with disabilities, our veterans and our workers,” Casey said.
Among other pieces of legislation he mentioned, he named the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, more commonly known as ABLE Actone of his greatest achievements.
“Prior to ABLE, people with disabilities could not save more than $2,000 without risking access to federal benefits, forcing many people with disabilities into a persistent state of poverty,” Casey said.
Casey also cited his work on the passage of the Campus SAVE Act in 2013, which gives colleges and universities greater responsibility for preventing sexual assault on campuses, and the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act of 2022, which is to provide pregnant women with “reasonable accommodations” while they continue to work.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Casey authored legislation to improve school nutrition and added that nearly 68% of U.S. school districts now offer free meals. He worked with Republicans to get it reauthorized Global Food Security Act to combat food insecurity.
Casey also cited regulations that need to be introduced aircraft cockpits safer and reducing the number of IEDs that killed and injured U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Casey also pointed to challenges facing the nation, including “fighting climate change, gun violence and the opioid crisis, lowering costs for families, providing home and community-based services for seniors and people with disabilities,” as well as upcoming vote next year on tax rules.
“In 2025, an significant moment will come, tax bill. “I won’t be here for this, but this tax debate will be a critical moment for American families,” Casey said. “Congress will decide whether to help middle-class, low-income families, people trying to get into the middle class, or to continue what I believe is a 40-year trend of providing significant tax benefits to the largest corporations on planet Earth and the wealthiest Americans “.
“I hope the Senate will take action to help the middle class and those trying to get into it,” Casey added, while stating that the Senate should make sure the child tax credit also passes and is fully refundable.
On foreign policy, Casey called China “not just a competitor, it’s an economic adversary,” stating that the United States must continue to “confront” China.
“I have often said that when China cheats, Pennsylvanians lose their jobs,” Casey said, touting the legislation he has developed over the years to crack down on Chinese trade tactics.
Casey said the Senate and the American people must make a choice between dictators and democracy, and said it was significant to continue supporting Ukraine.
He said Americans must “continue to support the people of Ukraine and the resulting war against murderous dictator Vladimir Putin.”
“Our nation generously supported the Ukrainian army. We can’t stop,” Casey said. “Abandoning them now undermines freedom-loving people everywhere.”
Senate colleagues thank Casey
After Casey spoke, several Democratic senators remained in the chamber to make speeches thanking him for his service.
U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), dressed for the occasion in a suit and tie, praised his colleague for his leadership and friendship. “I will confirm that Bob Casey is the best senator in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said.
“Bob was there for me when I had a stroke. He lent his voice to me as I was learning to speak again,” Fetterman said. “I never forgot it.”
He also added that Casey was a mentor to him after he was elected to the U.S. Senate and during a complex time in his life.
After McCormick is sworn in, Fetterman will become Pennsylvania’s senior senator, marking the first time since 2010 that Casey has not taken the position.
Seated next to Casey, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (R-Ohio), who was elected to the U.S. Senate with Casey in 2006 and lost his re-election bid in 2024, said Brown’s staffers worked with Casey more than anyone else. another is the Senate.
“No one on this board was as focused on children as Bob Casey. “It’s certainly a child tax credit, but it also covers a lot of other things,” Brown said. “For children with disabilities, for enabling children from Erie to Sharon, from Philadelphia to Bucks County, giving them more opportunities in life than they would otherwise have.”
Brown also said Casey had “extraordinary kindness” and humility that were infrequent in the U.S. Senate and benefited his constituents.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who was also first elected to the Senate with Casey in 2006, said Casey was trustworthy.
“Because of that, he was like the brother I never had,” Klobuchar said.
U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) called Casey humble and modest, but a fighter for causes he believed in.
“I have never run a stronger campaign for a colleague. “I have never been more disappointed in an outcome and it has never seemed more unfair to me than the days we have to endure without this son of Scranton who not only counted his blessings before us today, but who was a blessing to us every day,” Coons said.
Cartwright and Wild say goodbye to the US House of Representatives
House Democrat Susan Wild also delivered a farewell speech on Wednesday. Wild, a three-term member of the 7th District, was first elected during the 2018 blue wave but was defeated in November by Republican Ryan Mackenzie as the country turned toward conservatives.
https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/susan-wild-pennsylvania-7th-district-we-need-to-reinvent-how-we-campaign-democrat/
“I grew up in a true two-party household,” said Wild, who had a Republican father and a Democrat mother. “I think what I’m most proud of is putting the greater Lehigh Valley on the map for people here in Washington… And I’m proud that over the last six years I’ve made tremendous gains for the greater Lehigh Valley.”
Wild noted the achievements she is most proud of — lowering prescription drug costs, raising awareness of mental health issues and passing the CHIPS Act, which spurred private sector investment in manufacturing across the country, including in the Lehigh Valley.
But Wild also left a warning for her colleagues.
“First of all, we need to work on campaign finance reform,” she said. “In the last election, only in my district there was a race they cost a total of $38 million. For one race in Congress, this is obscene.”
Most of that money came from outside spending, according to the nonpartisan political money tracker OpenSecrets. While there are laws limiting the amount that individual donors can contribute to a candidate’s campaign, outside spending groups such as super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts on behalf of their preferred candidates. In some cases, they don’t have to disclose where it comes from.
In Pennsylvania’s 7th District, outside spending was greater than in all but seven House elections.
“Imagine all the good that can be achieved with this [money]– said Wild.
On Tuesday, 8th District Rep. Matt Cartwright also delivered his farewell speech after 12 years in the House. Cartwright was defeated in November by Republican Robert Breshnahan in the race to represent the northeastern Pennsylvania district that includes Scranton.
“When I was elected, I vowed that I would be an effective legislator, someone who would put politics aside for partisanship and work across the aisle to pass meaningful legislation that would impact the lives not only of my constituents back home, but of all Americans,” Cartwright said.
Cartwrighted cited legislation he sponsored that was passed during the last three presidential terms. Some of these bills, he said, protect veterans, protect the environment and reduce government waste. Cartwright also noted his own success securing funds to restore rail service between Scranton and New York through the Infrastructure Act for 2021.
“I’ve seen it all here in 12 years,” Cartwright said. “I observed Olympic-level servility, but I also served with some of the best people I have ever met in my life.”
Both Wild and Cartwright thanked their families and staff both in their districts and in Washington
The next term of Congress will begin on January 3, when Republicans will have a majority in the House and Senate.
