Bob Casey says goodbye to the U.S. Senate, after representing Pennsylvania for 18 years

Gillian McGoldrick, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Dec 18, 2024

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U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., “with a heart full of gratitude,” said goodbye on Wednesday to the Senate after 18 years representing Pennsylvania.

Casey, 64, lost to Republican Sen.-elect Dave McCormick in a historically close election that triggered an automatic recount. He did not concede until two weeks after the Associated Press called the race for McCormick, holding out hope that the statewide recount would change November’s red-wave election outcome and close the 17,000-vote gap between them.

But as Casey said farewell Wednesday in a speech to his colleagues, he reflected on his career in the U.S. Senate, closing the book — at least for now — on his nearly three decades in public service.

“It’s been a privilege to have served our commonwealth, to have served the people of our commonwealth,” Casey said.

Casey said he was most proud of the work he did to help children, people with disabilities, and seniors, including the creation of a savings program for people with disabilities to save money without risking their federal disability benefits. Casey said he was also proud of a provision that allows high-poverty school districts to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students that nearly 68% of all school districts use today. And he highlighted some of his work to expand high-speed internet access around the country, create tax credits for communities that previously relied on coal or natural gas to invest in clean energy, and more bright points from his nearly two decades in the Senate.

In true Casey fashion, his own speech was humble and without fanfare, hardly taking credit for his core role in major policy changes over his long Senate career. But his Democratic Senate colleagues described him as a champion for children and people with disabilities, told some of their favorite stories about the senator, and expressed how Casey has shaped their view of what being a public servant really means.

“This is not a speech that I ever expected to give, and definitely never wanted to give,” said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., describing Casey as a friend and mentor.

“During my campaign, Bob was by my side. When I had a stroke, he lent me his voice when I was learning to speak again,” Fetterman said, choking up. “I never forgot that.”

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., drew a contrast with Casey and a Hollywood heartthrob, saying the two have little in common.

“You are not sexy. You are not, you know, glamorous,” Booker said to laughs in the Senate chamber. “But somehow, you made me aspire to know in the Senate the difference between celebrity and significance, the difference between a show horse and a workhorse.”

Casey’s defeat was more devastating than Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss for some Pennsylvania Democrats, who have leaned on the mild-mannered and affable senator from Scranton for nearly two decades.

“I have never campaigned harder for a colleague,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., in his floor remarks. “I have never been more disappointed at an outcome, and it has never seemed more unjust to me than the days we must face ahead without this son of Scranton.”

Casey was joined on the Senate floor by his family, staff, and former staffers who traveled to Washington for his speech. His last day as a senator will be Jan. 2. McCormick will be sworn in on Jan. 3.

In Casey’s own remarks, he took the time to “count his blessings.” His late parents, former Gov. Bob Casey Sr. and Ellen Casey, taught him and his seven siblings to treat everyone they meet with respect. He thanked his wife, Terese Foppiano Casey, and their four daughters for the sacrifices made during his decades-long political career. And he thanked all of the staff in the U.S. Capitol and those that worked in his offices throughout his tenure.

“I will continue to do my part, to serve as a citizen and as a Pennsylvanian,” Casey said in closing his remarks. “Serving in the U.S. Senate has been the honor of a lifetime. I yield the floor.”

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