Republican Senate leaders showed enthusiasm about President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last February.

Gorsuch now awaits confirmation by the Senate.

>>> Trump Nominates Neil Gorsuch to Supreme Court

Gorsuch is hailed by conservative leaders as a solid choice to defend the original public meaning of the Constitution.

Here’s what 11 senators are saying about Trump’s choice for the high court.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said Gorsuch is an “impressive” choice for the position and called him a “prepared, thoughtful, and careful jurist.”

“I’ve had the privilege of arguing before Judge Gorsuch and he is extremely impressive,” Lee said in a statement released Tuesday night. “He is a prepared, thoughtful, and careful jurist, who has demonstrated a strong commitment to textualism and originalism … he has enriched the 10th Circuit’s jurisprudence in a number of areas during his 10 years on the court.”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Gorsuch is a “worthy successor to Justice Scalia” and he is a “strong defender of religious liberty.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called Gorsuch a “mainstream choice” to fill Scalia’s seat.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said he is confident Trump’s choice will honor Scalia’s legacy.

“Filling Justice Scalia’s seat with a principled conservative who will interpret the Constitution rather than legislate from the bench should be our top priority,” Flake said in a statement released Tuesday night. “I am confident that Judge Neil Gorsuch fits the bill, and I’ll do whatever I can to see that he receives an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate.”

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said he wants Gorsuch to be approved “without delay.”

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said the fabric of Gorsuch’s judicial judgment is “rooted in respect for the law.”

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said that Gorsuch “understands constitutional interpretation of law.”

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., praised Gorsuch for his “unwavering commitment to the Constitution,” in a statement released Tuesday night.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa., said Gorsuch “ … applies the law without regard to person or his own preferences. By all accounts, he has a record of deciding cases based on the text of the Constitution and the law.”

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he is looking forward to Gorsuch’s confirmation process:

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Gorsuch “is committed to the principles of original intent and judicial restraint,” and called that dedication “critical.”

“ … too many in the federal judiciary today believe it is appropriate for judges to invent new policies and rights instead of interpreting and defending the Constitution as it is written,” Rubio said.