Democrat Leader Schumer: We Will Maintain Our New Majority On Committees

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has issued a statement on Senator Kyrsten Sinema's (I-AZ) announcement to register as an Independent, stating that, despite Sinema's decision, Democrats will maintain majority control of Senate committees and Sinema will not have her assignments withdrawn.

• Schumer: “Senator Sinema informed me of her decision to change her affiliation to Independent. She asked me to keep her committee assignments and I agreed. Kyrsten is independent; that’s how she’s always been.”
• “I believe she’s a good and effective Senator and am looking forward to a productive session in the new Democratic majority Senate. We will maintain our new majority on committees, exercise our subpoena power, and be able to clear nominees without discharge votes.”
• Sinema has stated that she won't caucus with Republicans, meaning that Democrats will control 50 seats, Republicans 49 seats, and Sinema with be the solitary non-aligned independent. (Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) are Independent Senators who cuacus with with the Democrats.