Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., intends to introduce a resolution in the Senate to rename a Senate office building after the late Sen. John McCain, he announced Saturday.
McCain, R-Ariz., died Saturday at 81 following his battle with brain cancer. His death comes after the senator’s family announced Friday he would be discontinuing medical treatment.
Schumer, along with other congressional leaders, praised McCain for his service in the military and the Senate, as well as his patriotism and courage.
“As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller — never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare,” Schumer said in a statement. “The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain.”
“The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain,” Schumer continued. “Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him.”
The Russell Senate Office Building is currently named for Sen. Richard B. Russell, D-Ga., who served in the Senate for nearly 40 years.
Like Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lauded McCain for his commitment to public service and said it’s a “deeply sad day for the Senate and for our nation.”
“In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCain’s life shone as a bright example,” McConnell said. “He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or clichés, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life.”
House leaders also mourned the loss of McCain and said the country will be grieving his loss alongside his family.
“John McCain was a giant of our time — not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. John put principle before politics,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said in a statement. ”He put country before self. He was one of the most courageous men of the century. He will always be listed among freedom’s most gallant and faithful servants.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., noted McCain’s devotion to U.S. servicemembers and said he ensured “no man or woman in uniform was left behind on the battlefield or once they returned home.”
“Congress and America have lost a leader and public servant of deep patriotism, outstanding bravery and undaunted spirit,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Compelled by his unshakeable faith and deep love of country, he dedicated his life to defending both America and the American idea – fighting tirelessly to ensure that our nation always remains a land of justice, freedom and hope.”
