Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will leave that panel in January to focus on health-care issues and make room for freshmen Democrats, according to a statement from his office.
The decision has nothing to do with Kennedy’s health, The Boston Globe reports, citing a Democratic source. Kennedy has been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.
Kennedy led the committee during the 96th Congress in 1979 and 1980, after which Democrats lost control of the Senate for six years. His departure would mean that two former chairmen are set to move off the panel because Vice President-elect Joe Biden is resigning from the Senate.
In the statement, Kennedy said he expects to have a “very full agenda” pushing to expand health care. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I intend to make the most of it,” he said.
Kennedy added that he leaves “with great confidence in Chairman Leahy and my current colleagues on the Committee—and in the newly-elected Democratic Senators who will reap new opportunities from my stepping down. I remain deeply committed to civil rights, equal opportunities and immigration reform, and I will always be involved in those important debates and discussions.”
The Judiciary Committee will likely have a full agenda, too, with confirmation hearings for President-elect Barack Obama’s nominees for the Justice Department and the federal judiciary. Kennedy has been a frequent critic of conservative judicial nominees, including Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork in 1987.
UPDATE: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement: "Ted has always been a giant on the Committee. I will miss his wise counsel, but am thankful that we serve together in the Senate."
UPDATE II: More reaction is coming in about Kennedy's announcement, the latest from Kathryn Kolbert, president of the liberal advocacy group People for the American Way.
"During his years on the Judiciary Committee, Senator Kennedy proved himself to be one of the Constitution’s staunchest defenders," Kolbert said in a statement. "His passion for justice and his deep commitment to equality under the law have helped to better our nation in countless ways. Although we look forward to working with Chairman Leahy and the other members of the committee, we will miss Senator Kennedy’s presence immeasurably. He is irreplaceable."
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