WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after Senate Democratic Leader U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 114th Congress.

"Harry Reid has had a legendary career in the U.S. Senate. Harry is tough as nails, but you don’t have to dig very deep to find his soft exterior and heart that drives his public service. When I got to the Senate in 2013, he took me under his wing, gave me opportunities to lead within the caucus, and always listened when I had an issue that I needed help on for my state. I'm only sorry that I got to serve with him at the end of his storied career. If America is a nation defined by our toughness and our fighting spirit, then no Senator has better represented his country than Searchlight's Harry Reid.”