[Senate Document 113-16]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





                          Frank R. Lautenberg

                          LATE A SENATOR FROM

                               NEW JERSEY

                                   a

 
                           MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 
                           AND OTHER TRIBUTES 
                        HON. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

                                   a

                                   z

                               1924 -2013

                        hon. frank r. lautenberg

                                   a

                                   z

                               1924 -2013
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Frank R. Lautenberg
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                               Memorial Addresses and

                                   Other Tributes

                                 HELD IN THE SENATE

                            AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                OF THE UNITED STATES

                          TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE

                                     IN HONOR OF

                                 FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

                     Late a Senator from New Jersey

                    One Hundred Thirteenth Congress

                             First Session

                                   a

                          
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                            Compiled under the direction

                                       of the

                             Joint Committee on Printing


                                      CONTENTS
             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                      7
                    Blumenthal, Richard, of Connecticut............
                                                                     36
                    Blunt, Roy, of Missouri........................
                                                                     22
                    Brown, Sherrod, of Ohio........................
                                                                     28
                    Cantwell, Maria, of Washington.................
                                                                     20
                    Cardin, Benjamin L., of Maryland...............
                                                                     28
                    Casey, Robert P., Jr., of Pennsylvania.........
                                                                     30
                    Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
                                                                     18
                    Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois................
                                                                      7
                    Harkin, Tom, of Iowa...........................
                                                                     31
                    Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
                                                                     11
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
                                                                     18
                    Menendez, Robert, of New Jersey................
                                                                 13, 24
                    Murphy, Christopher, of Connecticut............
                                                                     19
                    Murray, Patty, of Washington...................
                                                                     16
                    Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
                                                                     27
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                     33
                    Reid, Harry, of Nevada 
                     ........................................
                                                  3, 18, 23, 25, 27, 37
                    Stabenow, Debbie, of Michigan..................
                                                                     12
                    Udall, Mark, of Colorado.......................
                                                                     34
             Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
                Tributes by Representatives:
                    Andrews, Robert E., of New Jersey..............
                                                                 43, 57
                    Brown, Corrine, of Florida.....................
                                                                     48
                    Butterfield, G.K., of North Carolina...........
                                                                     50
                    Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., of New Jersey........
                                                                     56
                    Garrett, Scott, of New Jersey..................
                                                                     45
                    Holt, Rush D., of New Jersey...................
                                                                 44, 59
                    Lance, Leonard, of New Jersey..................
                                                                     42
                    Moore, Gwen, of Wisconsin......................
                                                                     48
                    Pallone, Frank, Jr., of New Jersey.............
                                                                 42, 57
                    Pascrell, Bill, Jr., of New Jersey.............
                                                                 43, 51
                    Payne, Donald M., of New Jersey................
                                                                 46, 54
                    Pelosi, Nancy, of California...................
                                                                     47
                    Runyan, Jon, of New Jersey.....................
                                                                     46
                    Sires, Albio, of New Jersey....................
                                                                     45
                    Smith, Christopher H., of New Jersey 
                     ..........................
                                                         41, 47, 50, 54
                    Webster, Daniel, of Florida....................
                                                                     49
             Memorial Service......................................
                                                                     61


                                      BIOGRAPHY

               The phrase ``only in America'' had a special meaning for 
             Senator Frank R. Lautenberg. Senator Lautenberg began his 
             life as the son of poor but hard-working immigrant 
             parents. Following their example, he rolled up his sleeves 
             and pursued the American dream.
               He succeeded in spectacular fashion, first as a 
             businessman who helped start a major computing services 
             firm, and then as a U.S. Senator with a number of major 
             legislative accomplishments.
               Senator Lautenberg was born in Paterson, NJ, the son of 
             Polish and Russian immigrants who came to the United 
             States through Ellis Island. His early life was unsettled 
             as his parents moved about a dozen times while struggling 
             to support the family.
               Frank Lautenberg's father, Sam, worked in the silk 
             mills, sold coal, farmed, and once ran a tavern. When 
             Frank Lautenberg was 19, his father died of cancer. To 
             help his family, Senator Lautenberg worked nights and 
             weekends until he graduated from Nutley High School.
               After graduating from Nutley High, Senator Lautenberg 
             enlisted and served in the Army Signal Corps during World 
             War II in Europe. Following the war, he attended Columbia 
             University on the GI bill and graduated with a degree in 
             economics.
               With his military service completed and his education 
             secured, Frank Lautenberg set out to build a career. He 
             joined with two boyhood friends from his old neighborhood 
             to help start the Nation's first payroll services company, 
             Automatic Data Processing (ADP). Frank Lautenberg served 
             as chairman and CEO, and along with his partners developed 
             ADP into one of the largest computing services companies 
             in the world.
               Senator Lautenberg always knew that his success was a 
             uniquely American story. He wanted to give something back 
             to the nation that had given him so many opportunities. He 
             decided to launch a new career in politics, and running 
             for his first public office, was elected to the Senate in 
             1982. He was reelected in 1988 and 1994. After a brief 
             retirement, Senator Lautenberg won a fourth term in 2002 
             and was reelected to a fifth term on November 4, 2008.
               Over his first three terms in the U.S. Senate, Frank 
             Lautenberg built a solid record of accomplishment on a 
             broad range of issues that touch the lives of New 
             Jerseyans: helping to balance the Federal budget, stopping 
             aid to nations that support terrorism, keeping guns out of 
             the hands of convicted domestic abusers, banning smoking 
             on airplanes, getting drunk drivers off our roads, 
             protecting our oceans and environment, and improving our 
             transportation system.
               After returning to the Senate in 2003, Senator 
             Lautenberg picked up where he left off, working to improve 
             the lives of New Jersey families. He fought to save health 
             insurance for thousands of children in New Jersey, 
             reimburse military families who bought body armor for 
             their loved ones serving in Iraq, modernize the GI bill, 
             strengthen Amtrak, increase security along our railroads 
             and at our ports and chemical plants, provide justice for 
             victims of terrorism, make college more affordable, turn 
             Federal buildings ``green,'' and protect our beaches and 
             oceans.
               In his last session of Congress Senator Lautenberg 
             served on three Senate committees: Appropriations; 
             Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Environment and 
             Public Works. He also served as chairman of two Senate 
             subcommittees, one on the Commerce Committee and the 
             second on Appropriations.
               In a place that is often plagued with gridlock and 
             inertia, Senator Lautenberg was always someone who bucked 
             the rules, stood up for what he believed, and persisted in 
             making a difference.
               Senator Lautenberg is survived by his wife, Bonnie, 6 
             children and 13 grandchildren.
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                                 MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

                                         AND

                                   OTHER TRIBUTES

                                         FOR

                                 FRANK R. LAUTENBERG


                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                                   Monday, June 3, 2013
                                        prayer
               The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following 
             prayer:
               Let us pray.
               O God, thank You for being near to us in good and bad 
             times. We celebrate Your wonderful blessings that bring us 
             new victories each day.
               As we look at the flowers on the desk of our friend and 
             brother, Senator Frank Lautenberg, we thank You for his 
             life and legacy. As we mourn his death, send Your comfort 
             into our hearts. Bless Bonnie and his family and give them 
             Your peace. Let our memory of this good and courageous 
             American inspire us to transcend the barriers that divide 
             us and to work for the good of America.
               Amen.
                                  MOMENT OF SILENCE
               Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask that the Senate observe a 
             moment of silence in honor of the late Frank Lautenberg, a 
             Senator from the State of New Jersey.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate will have a 
             moment of silence.
               If all will please stand.
               (Moment of silence.)

               Mr. REID. Mr. President, when I learned early this 
             morning that Frank Lautenberg had died, of course, I 
             immediately became very sad. I served with him for two-
             and-a-half decades or more in the Senate.
               I see there are flowers on his desk. It seems the 
             flowers have barely wilted on the desk--which is right 
             behind me--of Senator Inouye. So I have a heavy heart.
               As we all know, the senior Senator from New Jersey, my 
             friend Frank Lautenberg, died this morning. My thoughts 
             are with his lovely wife Bonnie, his children, and 13 
             grandchildren.
               Few people in the history of this institution 
             contributed as much to this Nation and to the Senate as 
             Frank Lautenberg. His success story is what the American 
             dream is all about.
               He came from a family of working-class immigrants from 
             Eastern Europe--Russia and Poland. His parents struggled. 
             I heard Frank talk about how they struggled. They worked 
             so hard. They moved around New Jersey often.
               When Frank was 18, during the middle of World War II, he 
             enlisted in the U.S. Army. During World War II he served 
             with distinction in the Army Signal Corps. I can remember 
             Frank talking about his experiences in the European 
             theater. While he was in the Army Signal Corps, he said he 
             could see the war going on in his sight while he was up on 
             a wooden power pole.
               He talked about the many experiences he had during World 
             War II, as he said, making him a better American. He was 
             very proud of his military service. He is the last World 
             War II veteran having served in the Senate. We don't have 
             any World War II veterans anymore. His death is a great 
             loss to this institution in many different ways.
               When Frank came home from the war--he was obviously very 
             smart--he was permitted to attend the very prestigious 
             Columbia University. He did it, of course, on the GI 
             bill--just as so many of the other returning Americans 
             did.
               He quickly founded his own company. He started the 
             company with two boyhood friends. All three kids were from 
             New Jersey. Under his leadership, his firm, Automatic Data 
             Processing, known as ADP, grew into the largest computing 
             company of its kind in the world.
               He was so very proud of that company, and he never 
             hesitated to tell everyone that he made money. He became 
             rich. He was a poor boy who became wealthy as a result of 
             being able to fulfill his dreams as people can do in 
             America.
               Frank wasn't content with his personal success alone. He 
             was proud of the civic and charitable things he did, but 
             nothing made him more proud of what he did outside 
             government than when he served as the top lay leader of 
             the United Jewish Appeal, known as the Jewish Federations 
             of North America. He was very proud of that.
               Frank Lautenberg was known for many things before he 
             came to the Senate. He ran an impossible race for the 
             Senate and was elected. He came to the Congress in 1982, 
             the same year I did. Over the course of three decades he 
             worked tirelessly on behalf of his State and the country.
               He retired once. He could not stand retirement. He hated 
             retirement. He could not stay away from public service, 
             and he returned to the Senate.
               He had a remarkable career. I just touched upon a few of 
             his accomplishments. He had determination that made him 
             successful in the private sector and also served him well 
             in the Senate. Motivated by his own experience, Senator 
             Lautenberg, a World War II veteran, cowrote the 21st 
             century GI bill of rights. Recognizing how much this meant 
             to him, he wanted to ensure that the vets returning from 
             Iraq and Afghanistan enjoyed the same opportunities for 
             education that helped him become so successful.
               My youngest boy just hated cigarette smoke, and it 
             really made him ill. There was a time when people could 
             smoke everyplace in the airplane and then finally in a 
             different part of the airplane; however, it didn't matter. 
             Everybody sucked in the secondhand smoke.
               Frank Lautenberg took care of my boy and millions of 
             other people who would no longer have to suck in that 
             smoke in an airplane. He is the one, more than anyone 
             else, whom we have to thank for protecting us from deadly 
             secondhand smoke in an airplane because his legislation 
             banned smoking on airplanes.
               He was also a longtime member of the Environment and 
             Public Works Committee. Had he not retired in that very 
             short period of time that he did, he would have been 
             chairman of that committee. However, because he wasn't 
             there, I had the opportunity to be chair of that committee 
             on two separate occasions.
               He focused on this Nation's infrastructure, such as 
             roads and highways. One of the ideas he thought would make 
             this country a much safer place was to pass a drinking 
             limit so a person could not drink alcohol anyplace in the 
             country until they were 21 years of age. It was called a 
             national drunk driving standard.
               He believed in helping the State of New Jersey as well 
             as helping the country, but I am not sure in which order. 
             It was hard to understand the difference because he was 
             focused on the country and New Jersey at the same time.
               Frank wanted to make sure that women and children were 
             protected from gun violence. Thanks to him, we passed 
             legislation that convicted domestic abusers so they could 
             not own firearms.
               Those are just a few examples of his work in the Senate 
             that literally saved lives. He came from his sickbed--in a 
             wheelchair--to vote on gun legislation. He agreed with 90 
             percent of the American people--that people who had severe 
             mental problems or were felons should not be able to buy 
             guns. He agreed with 90 percent of the American people.
               He came from his bed to be here and vote with us. He was 
             so happy to be here. After that, he came once--just a few 
             days ago--to vote when we needed him again. He tried so 
             hard.
               When I talked to Bonnie today, she said he was confident 
             he would live to be 100. He was a very strong man 
             physically.
               A couple of years ago I took a big delegation to China. 
             It was a bipartisan group. It was a wonderful trip. For 
             Frank Lautenberg, that was his last foreign travel. I can 
             remember indicating what a strong man he was physically. I 
             had never been to the Great Wall of China. I don't know 
             how many of the other 10 Senators had been there, but I 
             had not. It is pretty steep, and there are big rocks that 
             have been there for centuries. Because Frank was 88 years 
             old at the time, somebody grabbed his arm to help him go 
             up. He pushed them away. He wanted no help from anybody. 
             He was on his own, and that is the way he wanted to be.
               I and our Nation owe a great debt of gratitude to Frank 
             for his outstanding service. He had always been so kind to 
             me. He was someone who appreciated serving. He appreciated 
             being here. He loved being in the Senate, and the Nation 
             is going to miss his strength and his progressive 
             leadership.
               The other attribute that probably a lot of people didn't 
             know about Frank Lautenberg was his sense of humor. I 
             always had him tell stories because no one could tell a 
             story like him. Another reason I liked Frank is he laughed 
             at his own jokes. He thought they were funny, as did most 
             everyone who listened to them.
               One of our favorite jokes was about two wrestlers. It 
             would take 5 minutes or more to tell the story, but it was 
             hilarious. No one could tell it like Frank. He had a sense 
             of humor, and we certainly appreciated that. Even though 
             the Senate has Al Franken, there was room for two funny 
             people prior to Frank's death this morning. Frank 
             Lautenberg--and Al Franken--always made us smile and often 
             made us laugh. Now I guess it is going to be up to Senator 
             Franken to do this alone, because they were both funny, 
             together and apart.
               It is with deep sadness that his Senate family is going 
             to say goodbye. We are going to do that Wednesday morning. 
             We will say goodbye to an exemplary public servant and a 
             faithful friend, Senator Frank Lautenberg.

               Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I am here today to speak 
             on clean energy independence, but before I do that I want 
             to note the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg.
               When I came to the Senate 10 years ago, there were a 
             number of Members here who were veterans of World War II. 
             Now there are none. Senator Lautenberg was the last. He 
             was a member of the generation often described as the 
             greatest.
               He was the son of immigrants. He made a lot of money in 
             business as an entrepreneur in the American dream. Then he 
             did another entrepreneurial thing: He ran for the U.S. 
             Senate and served twice here. He was an advocate for the 
             things he believed in, and he was a productive Senator. 
             Just in the last couple of weeks he helped to fashion an 
             agreement on amending the Toxic Substances Control Act, of 
             which I am a cosponsor. It has been a long time coming, 
             and he had a major role in that.
               We will miss him. To his wife Bonnie and to his family, 
             they have my respect and condolences and admiration for 
             his long service to our country.

               Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I just flew in from Chicago. 
             Early this morning I was given the news that I had lost a 
             great friend and one of my dearest colleagues; Senator 
             Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey passed away.
               Most of us saw Frank a few weeks ago. He was here on the 
             floor of the Senate. He had to come down; it was one of 
             those moments where his vote was crucial. We knew he was 
             struggling, but we also knew he would be here. He said he 
             would, and he was. He sat right over here in a wheelchair, 
             with that trademark Frank Lautenberg smile. I don't think 
             I have ever run into a person in my life as happy as Frank 
             Lautenberg. He was a great joke teller. The best thing 
             about Frank's jokes--even if he was telling it for the 
             254th time--is he would start laughing before the end of 
             the joke and pretty soon the whole room was laughing.
               You always wanted to be out for dinner with Frank and 
             Bonnie because you knew there was going to be a good time. 
             You would hear a lot of jokes you had heard before, but 
             you encouraged him to tell them. He had so many stories to 
             tell.
               Here he was, a member of the Greatest Generation, having 
             served in World War II, and served here in the Senate. Two 
             different approaches. He retired once and came back, and 
             served here to the age of 89.
               He astonished us all when he came here on the floor of 
             the Senate, that he was wheeled in in a wheelchair to vote 
             on some important amendments related to gun safety and gun 
             control. Frank, if he were alive, would not have missed 
             those votes; it meant so much to him. It was an issue that 
             he led on, he was respected for. When it came to closing 
             the loopholes where convicted felons and people who had no 
             business owning guns were buying them anyway, Frank 
             Lautenberg led the effort to stop the proliferation of 
             guns and the distribution of them to people who would 
             misuse them. It was a cause he felt passionately about, 
             and one he cast many tough votes on as he served in the 
             Senate.
               His return that day for those votes was an act of 
             courage in a long life that was filled with courage, 
             starting with his service in the U.S. Army in World War 
             II, and continuing throughout his life--physical courage, 
             political courage, and moral courage.
               When Frank Lautenberg spoke to some law students at 
             Rutgers University about 10 years ago, he said he had 
             considered briefly studying law himself after he had 
             served in the Army in World War II but decided he was too 
             old to start law school. He told the law students: It was 
             too late; I missed my opportunity.
               Frank Lautenberg may not have earned a law degree, but 
             make no mistake, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey left an 
             important mark on the laws of America.
               Here is how I first came to know him. In 1986 I was a 
             Congressman from Springfield, IL, and had been here 4 
             years. I had never met Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, who 
             was a Senator at the time. I got this crazy notion to 
             introduce a bill to ban smoking on airplanes. I didn't 
             have a chance, not a chance. The entire leadership of the 
             House of Representatives opposed me--all the Democratic 
             leaders of my party and all the Republican leaders too. 
             Yet I put the amendment on a transportation appropriations 
             bill, and through some good luck and breaks it made it 
             through the Rules Committee. That wasn't supposed to 
             happen.
               It turned out that when the chairman of the Rules 
             Committee--Claude Pepper of Florida--was a Senator years 
             before, he had been instrumental in starting the National 
             Cancer Institute. As a southerner, he didn't talk much 
             about tobacco--nobody did from the South in those days--
             but in his heart he knew tobacco smoking was killing 
             people. He let me get that amendment to the floor, which 
             shocked everybody. I remember the day--and this goes back 
             27 years--I was in the House of Representatives, brand 
             new, calling this amendment to ban smoking on flights of 2 
             hours or less. That is how we started. I looked up in the 
             gallery, and the gallery was filled with flight attendants 
             in their uniforms from all different airlines. They were 
             victims too of secondhand smoke.
               We called that measure for a vote, and it passed. It 
             shocked everybody. It turned out the House of 
             Representatives was the biggest frequent flier club in 
             America. They were sick and tired of sitting on airplanes 
             and breathing in somebody else's secondhand smoke.
               Well, there were a few moments of jubilation and 
             celebration. Then somebody said, ``Well, what are you 
             going to do in the Senate?'' I thought, Oh, my goodness; 
             that is an important part of this. So I decided to call 
             the chairman of the Transportation Appropriations 
             Subcommittee--a fellow named Frank Lautenberg of New 
             Jersey. I didn't know him, but I said to him, ``Frank, I 
             would like to ask you a favor. Would you consider offering 
             this bill as an amendment to the Senate transportation 
             appropriations bill?'' He said, ``I will get back to 
             you.'' And he did--in a hurry. He said, ``I am on board. 
             Let's do it together.''
               It was the best phone call I ever made. For the people 
             of this country and those who fly on airplanes, that team 
             of Lautenberg and Durbin managed to pass a bill, signed 
             into law, which did much more than we ever dreamed of. We 
             thought this little idea of taking smoking off airplanes 
             would make flying a little more comfortable and safer from 
             a health point of view. What neither Frank nor I realized 
             at the time was it was a tipping point. Americans looked 
             around and said, If we are going to take smoking off 
             airplanes, why stop there? Trains, buses, offices, 
             hospitals, restaurants--look across the board at what has 
             happened in America. Neither Frank nor I saw this coming, 
             but it worked. It has changed the Senate, the House--it 
             has changed this country. I wouldn't be standing here 
             today telling you the story were it not for Frank 
             Lautenberg. He was the very best partner I ever could have 
             had. The day came when I was elected to the Senate. He and 
             I used to go around and tell the story from time to time, 
             reminiscing about that battle back in 1986.
               Frank told us he was once a two-pack-a-day cigarette 
             smoker himself, but when it came to this bill, he knew the 
             right thing to do. I was lucky to have him by my side. I 
             couldn't have done it without him.
               He was the driving force behind a lot of other laws that 
             were important to America: setting the national drinking 
             age at 21; setting the national blood level definition of 
             0.08 for drunk driving. These laws on smoking and drunk 
             driving have saved millions of lives thanks to the 
             leadership of Frank Lautenberg.
               He was the last remaining World War II veteran in the 
             Senate. A few weeks ago we lost Danny Inouye, who used to 
             sit right here. He, of course, served in World War II as 
             well.
               Frank passed away early this morning in New York. He is 
             survived by his wife Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg. What an 
             extraordinarily good person she is. I left a message for 
             her on her voice mail and said, ``Standing by Frank's side 
             made a big difference in his life, in the years they were 
             together. They were a great partnership.'' In addition, he 
             is survived by 6 children and 13 grandchildren.
               He was a leader on environmental protection, 
             transportation, and protecting public health. He authored 
             the law that prevented domestic abusers from possessing 
             guns. It wasn't easy to do. It looks pretty obvious, 
             doesn't it? It turned out police organizations were 
             opposing him, because some policemen had been accused of 
             domestic abuse and they couldn't carry a gun under the 
             Lautenberg amendment. Frank stood his ground.
               He cowrote the new GI bill for the 21st century. A man 
             who was a beneficiary of the original GI bill in World War 
             II teamed up with Jim Webb of the State of Virginia, and 
             the two of them put together a GI bill that our men and 
             women who serve richly deserve.
               He authored the toxic right to know law. It was another 
             great law he and I cosponsored. It came down to the 
             question of the chemicals that are put in fabric in our 
             furniture--which, sadly, leech out and get into the 
             environment of our homes, many times affecting small 
             children. Frank was quick to be the leader on that issue. 
             Even though his State of New Jersey is one with a lot of 
             chemical manufacturers and producers, he led in this 
             effort to protect families and children.
               He wrote the law to create the Paterson Great Falls 
             National Historic Park. After he cast his 9,000th vote in 
             December 2011, Senator Harry Reid proclaimed on the Senate 
             floor, ``Frank Lautenberg has been one of the most 
             productive Senators in the history of this country.''
               It was February 15 that Frank announced he wasn't going 
             to seek another term in the Senate. At the time of his 
             announcement in his hometown of Paterson, he set out an 
             agenda for the remaining 2 years of what he wanted to get 
             done before he left the Senate: reforming the U.S. 
             chemical safety laws, improving gun safety, and providing 
             Federal resources for New Jersey to rebuild from 
             Superstorm Sandy.
               We owe it to Frank and his memory to make sure those 
             things are done. I know that Bob Menendez, his friend and 
             close colleague from New Jersey, will pick up that 
             gauntlet and proceed to carry on in Frank's name.
               He used to say with some pride that he was a success in 
             business--and he was--and that he understood the mind of 
             businessmen. But he never ever lost touch with the common 
             man and the people who counted on him in New Jersey and 
             around the United States.
               The Senate is going to miss Frank Lautenberg. I am going 
             to miss a great pal. I am going to miss one of the best 
             dinner companions you could ever dream of here in 
             Washington, DC. We are going to join together on Wednesday 
             up in New York for a memorial service. I am sure it is 
             going to be widely attended, because Frank did a lot of 
             good for a lot of people over the course of his years in 
             public service. I am going to miss him.

               Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I was going to speak on a 
             different subject, but I will speak further about our dear 
             colleague Senator Lautenberg. I look at the flowers on his 
             desk--it seems in the years I have been here I have seen 
             too many colleagues' flowers there. Of course, every day 
             Frank Lautenberg was here, I had the privilege of serving 
             with him, a dear friend. I missed him when he left the 
             Senate and was overjoyed when he came back. He was a man 
             who cared about his country, cared about the Senate, cared 
             about the people.
               He was a man who came from humble beginnings and became 
             extremely wealthy. He spent a lot of time giving that 
             wealth away. He was the last combat veteran--in fact, the 
             last veteran from World War II serving in this body. Those 
             of us who got to know him and spent time hearing of those 
             horrendous times in Europe during World War II are better 
             for it. We realized a person who had served the country 
             during that time did more than any of the rest of us.
               I will speak further about my friend Frank Lautenberg. I 
             know Marcelle and I extend our love to Bonnie and his 
             children, his family.

               Ms. STABENOW. ... I want to take a moment--as many 
             colleagues have already done, and many more will do--to 
             pay a very special tribute to a dear friend and colleague, 
             Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.
               I was deeply saddened, as we all were today, to learn 
             Senator Lautenberg had passed away during the night. My 
             thoughts and prayers are with Bonnie and the whole family, 
             as I know they are grieving because of the special loss 
             they feel and we will all feel.
               He was the kind of Senator we will not see again--a 
             World War II veteran. We have lost our World War II 
             veterans. He defended freedom against some of the most 
             evil forces of the 20th century, and he was truly a member 
             of the Greatest Generation of Americans.
               We saw him battle cancer and survive. We have seen him 
             come to the floor time after time on behalf of the people 
             of New Jersey and our country to fight with tremendous 
             courage for what he believed was right.
               I daresay he was one of the lions of the Senate. He 
             served for nearly 30 years, casting over 9,000 votes on 
             behalf of the State and the people he loved.
               What makes Congress special is that we come from all 
             walks of life, and, as we know, that is what makes a great 
             democracy. That is what gives us our strength, not 
             weakness.
               Senator Lautenberg was the son of Jewish immigrants. He 
             went to school on the GI bill--as my dad did--after 
             defending our country. He went on to become a successful 
             businessman by developing one of the most successful 
             payroll companies in the world.
               We were proud to have Senator Lautenberg speak on what 
             it meant to be a success in creating jobs. He has been a 
             wonderful voice in that regard.
               He found his true calling in public service, and we all 
             know that. During his five terms in the Senate he was one 
             of the most fearless fighters on a whole range of issues. 
             He has made a permanent mark on the quality of life of 
             Americans. Among other things, he helped to strengthen 
             drunk driving laws, pass the ban on smoking, prevent those 
             convicted of domestic violence from possessing guns, 
             author legislation to help the public discover what 
             pollutants were being released into neighborhoods, and 
             cowrite the new GI bill for the 21st century. I could go 
             on and on with so many other examples.
               I am proud to have worked with him to champion cleaning 
             our beaches all along our coasts and Great Lakes, working 
             to increase the awareness and treatment of autism, and 
             fighting to make sure women have access to the health care 
             we need and deserve.
               He was a true fighter for the rights of all Americans, 
             and he will be greatly missed.
               Once again, I send my thoughts and prayers to his wife 
             Bonnie, who is an amazing woman in her own right, his 
             children, and his grandchildren during this very difficult 
             time. ...

               Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, today I come to the floor 
             shaken and deeply saddened, as we all are, by the loss of 
             our colleague, my good friend and ally, the senior Senator 
             from New Jersey, Senator Frank Lautenberg. When I think of 
             Senator Lautenberg, I think of the word ``tenacity.'' 
             Frank Lautenberg was tenacious. When he had a setback, he 
             always got right back into the game. He was as tenacious 
             in life as he was here in the Senate, where that tenacity 
             paid off for the people of New Jersey and for the Nation.
               When he had a setback with cancer, he did not let 
             himself take 1 minute more than he had to before he got 
             back up and went right back at it. I will always remember 
             his tenacity, a strength of will, and an unshakable 
             resolve that helped him in his own life and in making life 
             better for others.
               Frank Lautenberg loved the Senate. He loved his job and 
             the people who elected him time and time again--five 
             times, in fact; the longest serving Senator for the State 
             of New Jersey--people he cared deeply about--working 
             families, seniors, single moms and the hard-working folks 
             who trusted him always to be on their side, and he was. He 
             was a man for New Jersey, a man for his time--one of the 
             Greatest Generation, the last in the Senate to have served 
             in World War II.
               His story was the quintessential American story. His 
             father Sam worked in the silk mills of Paterson, NJ. He 
             sold coal, he farmed, and he once ran a tavern. Frank lost 
             his father to cancer when he was 19 and he learned the 
             lesson of hard work, having to take on a job nights and 
             weekends until he graduated from Nutley High School, when 
             he joined the Army and went to Europe. When he came back, 
             he went to Columbia University on the GI bill, and he got 
             a degree in economics. He understood the value of that 
             opportunity given to him as a veteran and he extended that 
             forward when he later coauthored the new 21st century GI 
             bill.
               Anyone who knew Frank Lautenberg knew he was destined to 
             make something of himself, and he did. He joined two of 
             his boyhood friends to found a very successful business, 
             ADP, and he did it well. But if losing his father, working 
             his way through high school, going to war, starting a 
             business and making a success of himself wasn't enough, 
             Frank wanted to give something back. He was very 
             comfortable in life and he could have said: I am going to 
             enjoy this hard work and sacrifice that has brought me to 
             this comfortable stage in life, but he considered himself 
             lucky and he wanted to help others. That is why he ran for 
             office. It is why he served and it is why the people of 
             New Jersey kept electing him.
               New Jerseyans loved and admired Frank for what he did 
             for the Nation and what he did to help them and every 
             American build a better life for themselves and their 
             families. In death, those accomplishments and the love and 
             admiration New Jerseyans have always had for Frank 
             Lautenberg will not diminish, whether it was his landmark 
             drunk driving law, coauthoring the 21st century GI bill, 
             or introducing the toxic right to know law that empowered 
             the public to know what pollutants were being released 
             into their neighborhood, Frank gave something back to all 
             of us.
               We can talk about how hard he fought for the victims of 
             Superstorm Sandy this year. Even in illness he came back 
             to the Senate to try to make sure New Jerseyans and all 
             those who suffered from Superstorm Sandy were taken care 
             of. Or we can talk about how he worked to make the 
             Paterson Great Falls--his hometown he loved so dearly--a 
             national park. But above all, he was Mr. Transportation 
             here in the Senate. Whether it was roads or bridges, 
             airlines or the rail system, he believed in having the 
             best and safest transportation system in the world. When 
             it comes to air travel, he was way ahead of his time when 
             it came to safety. Let's not forget it was Frank 
             Lautenberg who ended the dangers of smoking on airlines so 
             none of us would be subjected to sitting in a smoke-filled 
             aircraft and with the dangers of smoking on a plane. 
             Today, when I took the Amtrak from Newark to Union 
             Station, I thought through most of that ride of Frank. I 
             remembered how many times he came to this floor to fight 
             for America's railways, how much he believed in the 
             importance of rail travel and what it meant to keeping 
             this Nation's transportation system competitive.
               Given all those accomplishments, it still would not 
             adequately reflect the gift of governing he gave this 
             Nation in the 9,000 votes he cast in this Chamber. Maybe 
             not all of them made the headlines, but they made a 
             difference for every American family. With each of those 
             votes, Frank Lautenberg helped shape the history of 
             America, and not just for his time but for all generations 
             to come.
               When I think of Frank I also certainly not only look 
             back to the fact he was part of that Greatest Generation 
             of World War II veterans, but I also think Frank may have 
             left us too soon at the age of 89 because he never missed 
             a beat. He lived in the moment. I remember about 3 years 
             ago, in January, he and his wife Bonnie celebrated his 
             86th birthday in what some might say was an unusual way. 
             Frank wanted to spend his birthday with his favorite 
             singer. He was a fan of Lady Gaga, and so to celebrate his 
             birthday, he and Bonnie went to Radio City Music Hall for 
             Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour.
               No, Frank was not yesterday's news. He was always about 
             today's news, and he lived in the moment. But that moment 
             is gone now. We remember well, and we were lucky to share 
             that moment with him. Time goes by all too quickly, but 
             the memories last forever. His accomplishments will last 
             forever. They will touch the lives of people well beyond 
             his death, and our image of what it means to learn to 
             live, to learn to earn, and then give something back will 
             never be forgotten because it lives in Frank Lautenberg's 
             legacy to this Chamber, this Nation, and to the people of 
             my home State.
               There is a quote from the Old Testament, from Daniel, 
             chapter 12, and it says:

               Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall 
             awake ... and the wise shall shine brightly like the 
             splendor of the firmament ... And those who lead the many 
             to justice shall be like the stars forever.

               Frank Lautenberg stood for justice in all of its forms 
             for every American every day he served in this Chamber, 
             and his memory shall be like a constellation showing us 
             the way.
               Today we say: Thank you, Senator Lautenberg, for a life 
             well lived and a job well done. Thank you, on behalf of a 
             grateful State and Nation.
               Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his wife 
             Bonnie and his entire family. I know we will miss him as 
             they will miss him, as the Nation will miss his incredible 
             work.

               Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I come to the floor this 
             evening with a very sad heart to speak about one of our 
             colleagues here in the Senate who gave tremendous service 
             to his country and sadly passed away last night.
               Senator Frank Lautenberg was a true American. He earned 
             a lot throughout his lifetime, but he came here to the 
             Senate floor to fight for all of those people who didn't 
             have the ability to fight for themselves. He was here in 
             the Senate with us just a few weeks ago even though he 
             himself was battling an extremely difficult illness.
               I think of Frank Lautenberg as a man of tremendous 
             determination, an awful lot of grit, and someone who 
             really embodies the term ``happy warrior.'' He wanted to 
             be here to fight for those who didn't have what he did. 
             Throughout his career, that is exactly what he did.
               Frank lived the American dream. He was the son of poor 
             immigrants, and he rose to become a chief executive of a 
             business that employed thousands of people around the 
             world. He personally did very well, but he was never 
             satisfied with just his own personal success. He 
             understood, as did so many other great Americans, that his 
             success was based on the opportunities this country 
             afforded him. So he chose over three decades to give back 
             and to fight for people to make sure they had the 
             opportunities he had.
               He started his career in the Senate back in 1982. As 
             many of us who served with him know, he decided to retire, 
             but he was not happy in retirement. He wanted to be here 
             doing what he loved--being a Senator and fighting for the 
             people of his home State of New Jersey and fighting for 
             Americans all over to have the opportunities I just spoke 
             about. He made it his mission to make sure the ladders 
             that were there for him were there for the generations 
             that came behind him.
               He was a proud World War II veteran--in fact, the last 
             this body will know. He fought for the post-9/11 GI bill 
             because, as did my dad, who was also a World War II 
             veteran, he had used the GI bill after World War II. He 
             knew it was the key to unlocking the knowledge that 
             powered the Greatest Generation. He wanted that for those 
             who came behind him.
               His desire to stand for the powerless is also why he 
             championed legislation to protect families from gun 
             violence, why he stood to safeguard families against 
             dangerous chemicals time and time again, and why he took 
             on the powerful to ban smoking on airplanes and to bring 
             about tougher drunk driving protections.
               I personally will always remember Frank's passion for 
             transportation. He chaired the Transportation and Housing 
             and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee before I 
             did, and I spent many years working with him to make sure 
             we funded the infrastructure of this country--rail, 
             highway, airline safety issues.
               Frank's legacy really is that his direct work saved 
             lives. He saved lives. He helped to build transportation 
             networks that brought families, businesses, and 
             communities together. He wanted a better life for families 
             in America. He was a champion for the underserved and 
             underrepresented.
               How many times have I been on the floor feeling like a 
             lonely voice--fighting for women's health care issues or 
             fighting for the protection of families against hazardous 
             chemicals or fighting for victims of domestic violence--
             and time and time again Frank Lautenberg would come over 
             here to stand beside me and fight with me, no matter what 
             the time of day or the late hour of the night, because 
             that was his passion and his cause.
               He was a passionate public servant. He was not afraid to 
             fight and vote for what he believed. He could never 
             understand anyone who came here and tried to figure out 
             which way the winds were blowing in order to take a vote. 
             Frank came and was passionate about whom he cared for, and 
             he did not care about the political consequences. He 
             wanted to fight for the underserved.
               He loved the Senate. In fact, he loved it so much that 
             one tour of duty was not enough and service called him 
             back, as I said. Up until just a few days ago, nothing 
             could stop Frank from taking Amtrak down here to fight for 
             the issues he believed in and the people of New Jersey 
             whom he represented so well.
               Frank Lautenberg gave everything he had to public 
             service, and those who served with him, as I was so 
             fortunate to do, know it gave him all the satisfaction in 
             the world.
               He is going to be missed by all of us. He will be missed 
             for his determination, for his passion, for always caring, 
             and for fighting for what was right for all the people in 
             this country.
               I just wish to say tonight that my thoughts and prayers 
             are with Bonnie and all of his family as they struggle 
             with this loss, but I know that his legacy lives on in the 
             safety and caring of so many families in this country for 
             whom he worked so passionately and hard.
               Thank you.
                                                  Tuesday, June 4, 2013
               Mr. REID. Mr. President, this week the Senate will say 
             goodbye to a valued friend and colleague, Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg. The funeral for Frank will be in New York. He 
             is a great American success story and the Senate's last 
             World War II veteran.
               As I indicated, we will recognize his passing and 
             celebration of his life. It has been made pretty clear 
             that he will be buried in Arlington Friday afternoon.
               Senator Lautenberg loved this institution, where he 
             spent more than three decades. He would understand that 
             its work must go on, despite our sorrow.

               Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to associate myself 
             with the remarks of the majority leader with regard to our 
             late colleague Frank Lautenberg. He was, indeed, a member 
             of the Greatest Generation, having fought in World War II 
             and also has had distinguished service in the Senate. ...

               Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I join others of our 
             colleagues in mourning the passing of our friend and 
             former colleague, Senator Frank Lautenberg. Senator 
             Lautenberg joined this body in 2003 for the second time. I 
             was immensely struck by his tenacious work ethic and his 
             deep-seated devotion to the people of his State of New 
             Jersey. These are attributes that would serve all of us 
             well and served him well and are something to which we can 
             and should all aspire.
               Senator Lautenberg's legacy will be forever woven in the 
             fabric of America's history. His work on the new GI bill 
             of rights has helped ensure that thousands of America's 
             fighting men and women receive the support they need when 
             they come home and the opportunity to become part of the 
             next Greatest Generation.
               With his passing, the Senate has lost its final member 
             of what we all know or have come to call, as Tom Brokaw 
             did, the Greatest Generation, the World War II generation, 
             the generation my dad served in as part of the Army Air 
             Corps in flying B-17s in World War II, and my father-in-
             law, who landed on Utah Beach on the second day of the 
             Normandy invasion. These were great Americans, and it is 
             their sacrifice and the contribution they have made to our 
             way of life that have made it possible for America to 
             remain the envy of the world.
               We are also reminded that our time in this Chamber is 
             fleeting, and we should be humbled by that reminder.
               There have been 43 new Senators who have come to the 
             Senate since 2007 alone. The reason I counted is because 
             that was the last time we took up immigration reform--a 
             subject we are going to turn to perhaps next week. Forty-
             three new Senators since 2007. Perhaps we will have 44 by 
             the time we turn to that topic next week. We are reminded 
             it is our duty as Americans to ensure this Chamber will 
             host future generations of great Americans as well.
               As Senator Lautenberg goes to his rest, my prayer is 
             that his loved ones can take solace in the fact that he 
             played such an important part in the great American story 
             with honor and integrity.

               Mr. MURPHY. ... Frankly, there are hundreds, if not 
             thousands, of men and women across this country who are 
             alive today because of that law ... a protective order 
             being filed due to domestic violence, a gun purchase being 
             stopped because of that order.
               One of the reasons we have that law on the books today 
             is the advocacy of Senator Frank Lautenberg. Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg, who died this week, made it his life's cause 
             to try to make the streets of his State of New Jersey 
             safer. He was advocating right up until his final days on 
             the floor of this Chamber to enact a ban on high-capacity 
             magazines such as the one that killed 20 little 6- and 7-
             year-olds in Connecticut.
               He was successful in passing through this Chamber a 
             piece of legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of 
             people who have been convicted of domestic violence. It is 
             a law that has worked. It is a law that has saved the 
             lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women all 
             across this country. It is a reminder that this place can 
             do something about the 4,670 people who have died since 
             Newtown due to gun violence.
               Frank Lautenberg knew this place had the power to save 
             lives by enacting commonsense gun violence legislation--in 
             his case, just a simple rule that if someone has been 
             convicted of domestic violence, maybe they shouldn't get 
             their hands on a gun.
               Senator Lautenberg's work is a reminder that whether it 
             is next month, later this year, or next year, we still 
             have work to do to try to honor the memories of the 
             thousands of victims of gun violence all across this 
             country.

               Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I have been listening to 
             this debate with my colleagues, and I came to share a few 
             thoughts about the passing of our dear friend Senator 
             Frank Lautenberg. He was a dear friend, a colleague. When 
             I originally sat in the Senate, he sat right behind me. We 
             shared seats together on the Commerce Committee. I can 
             tell you Frank's wit was as quick as his downhill slalom 
             skiing. He always had something funny to say.
               We knew him as somebody who had been in one of the 
             largest computer services companies, ADP, and helped get 
             that company started, and as somebody who represented 
             veterans as one of the last World War II veterans in this 
             body. He served here for almost 30 years.
               What always amazed me about Frank is that he brought 
             that business attitude to the Senate when it came to 
             legislating; that is, results matter. Because of that, he 
             had a long list of legislative accomplishments.
               I don't know if everybody, because of the turnover in 
             the Senate, realized how many things Frank accomplished: 
             banning smoking on airplanes, lowering the threshold for 
             drunk driving, better protection against toxic chemicals, 
             helping to improve the everyday safety of Americans, 
             improving the quality of our environmental laws in the 
             United States. He also had an amendment that helped allow 
             for better refugee status, for members of historically 
             persecuted groups to easily get refugee status in the 
             United States.
               He did many different things while he was in the Senate, 
             and he worked very hard because of that experience in 
             World War II and being a veteran and going to school on 
             the GI bill--somebody who lost his father at a very early 
             age. He used that GI bill to get the education he needed 
             to do these incredible things.
               When Frank had a victory, he didn't stop at that 
             victory, he kept going. After he and Dick Durbin helped 
             ban smoking on commercial flights, he followed that with a 
             provision to the transportation appropriations bill that 
             extended the ban to include all Federal buildings.
               In the same kind of fervor, once he helped make our 
             drunk driving laws stronger, he continued to try to 
             implement stronger measures as a key player in 
             establishing a national blood alcohol level at 0.08 
             percent. At the time, many States decided to do otherwise, 
             but Frank worked to try to champion this at the Federal 
             level, and as a result he helped to save tens of thousands 
             of lives.
               He was also a huge champion of our environment. He 
             championed ocean acidification issues before they were 
             probably really known by a lot of people in America. He 
             understood that this was a looming disaster and that we 
             needed to do more research for marine life, our economy, 
             and our way of life.
               He also knew and understood that Americans needed 
             protection from toxic pollutants. Well, that is something 
             most of us would say: Yes, we don't like toxic pollutants. 
             Back in 1986 he wrote a bill that created a public 
             database about toxins released in the United States. That 
             was certainly brave for somebody from New Jersey because 
             it was a leading chemical-producing State. The fact that 
             Frank took that on showed a lot of tenacity and a lot of 
             courage, and just as he did on the other things, he 
             followed that up.
               Recently he introduced the Safe Chemicals Act to improve 
             the understanding and reporting of chemicals found in 
             products that make their way into the hands of Americans 
             every single day.
               He also championed improving our transportation system. 
             I asked him: ``Frank, how did you already get a train 
             station named for you on the Jersey line?'' Anyone who has 
             taken the Amtrak up to New York has had a chance to see 
             that a station in Secaucus is named the Frank R. 
             Lautenberg Station. He had been a great champion for 
             Amtrak, but he was also a great champion for freight and 
             freight mobility. He knew it was important to New Jersey 
             as a major port in our country, and he wanted to make sure 
             that not only people but products got to where they needed 
             to go and got there on time.
               We all like to think we are remembered by the American 
             people for the accomplishments we have, and I am not sure 
             whether they will remember all of the things Frank 
             Lautenberg did to contribute to their way of life. One 
             thing I can say is that when I think about his advocacy 
             for a modernized GI bill or banning smoking on planes, he 
             touched the lives of millions of Americans.
               He also had tenacity. He had the tenacity once to help a 
             boy from New Jersey who had been involved in a domestic 
             dispute where the father had lost custody. The young boy 
             at that time, Sean Goldman, who was from New Jersey, had 
             been taken by a family member and was in Brazil. His 
             father tried going through the Brazilian courts for years 
             to get him back. He really wasn't successful until Frank 
             Lautenberg joined the fight. Frank brought the same 
             tenacity he had shown in the past and held up a 
             Generalized System of Preferences bill--which removed 
             tariffs on 2.7 billion dollars' worth of Brazilian goods--
             here in the Senate. He knew that threatening to hold up 
             that bill would get their attention, and he was right. He 
             literally got them to do something and return this young 
             boy, Sean Goldman, to his father. Frank really cared about 
             results. He knew it was important to get that father and 
             son reunited, and he knew the importance of getting 
             results for his constituency in New Jersey.
               We will miss Frank. We will miss all of his legislative 
             actions, his standing on the Senate floor and giving a 
             speech or, as he would say, giving heck to somebody. 
             Oftentimes it was somebody on the other side or somebody 
             he thought was a big giant doing too many things that 
             needed to be challenged. He will be remembered as part of 
             a great generation of Americans who were successful in so 
             many ways. He lived the American dream, came to the Senate 
             and was a contributor. He will be remembered for his 
             tenacity and standing and fighting for people.
               We are going to miss you, Frank.

               Mr. BLUNT. I would like to talk for a few minutes about 
             Senator Lautenberg and what he brought to this body and 
             what he brought to public service.
               I represent Missouri in the Senate, and in the House I 
             represented southwest Missouri. Many times in the last 
             2\1/2\ years, Senator Lautenberg wanted to talk about 
             going to basic training at Camp Crowder near Neosho, MO, 
             as a young man barely on the edge of his twenties--I am 
             not sure which edge of his twenties it was, but he was 
             serving in World War II, first as a teenager and then as a 
             man barely in his twenties--and what it was like to be 
             surrounded by small communities, all of which were smaller 
             than the camp at which the enlisted men were training, and 
             what it was like when they had some free time and could go 
             to any of these communities where they probably 
             outnumbered the community. He always remembered that part 
             of his training with some pleasure. The story was always 
             different from the story before, but I am sure all the 
             stories happened.
               What he was really talking about to me every time was 
             that commitment to service that particularly our World War 
             II veterans brought to this body. We all know, after the 
             reflections of the last 2 days, that he was the last of 
             the World War II veterans to serve here and likely to be 
             the last of the World War II veterans to ever serve here, 
             and the spirit of service they all brought was reflected 
             in Senator Lautenberg in lots of ways.
               All you would have to do is look at our voting record to 
             know there were lots of areas at the end of the day we 
             didn't agree on, but somehow we managed to do that and 
             still appreciate the commitment to public service that he 
             reflected, and I think he appreciated that in me.
               One of the chances I missed here was the opportunity to 
             serve with him on the Surface Subcommittee in Commerce. He 
             was going to be the chairman of that committee for this 
             Congress, and I was going to be the leading Republican and 
             was looking forward to that because this was one area 
             where I thought we were going to find and would have found 
             a lot of common ground. Senator Lautenberg's understanding 
             of transportation, his understanding beyond most of us of 
             the importance of passenger rail and rail generally and 
             how you need to integrate this system so that it works the 
             best and the most efficiently, was clearly one of the 
             areas where he had spent a lot of time over the years.
               Remember, Senator Lautenberg was here as a Senator, and 
             then he decided to retire and then was called back into 
             public service. At a time when most people would have made 
             that decision and moved on, he came back and served here, 
             as it turned out, for the rest of his life of service.
               It was an honor for us to get to serve with him. It was 
             an honor for me to get to serve with him. It is a 
             disappointment for me that I didn't get to learn more 
             about this issue he and I were about to join hands on 
             together.
               There is a lot we should learn from his service and the 
             service of that World War II generation. I hope that is 
             one of the things we will be reflecting on over the next 
             few days as we reflect on his career of service and that 
             whole generation of service. We really do see that moment 
             pass with Senator Inouye and Senator Lautenberg and others 
             who have served here just in recent years, all gone. But 
             if we could look at the times they could come together in 
             that spirit of World War II to make things happen, we 
             would all learn an important lesson.
               I join his family and his friends and his colleagues in 
             missing him and missing his service.

               Mr. REID of Nevada submitted the following resolution; 
             which was considered and agreed to:
                                     S. Res. 160
               Whereas, The Senate has heard with profound sorrow and 
             deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable 
             Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from the State of New 
             Jersey: Now, therefore, be it
               Resolved, That the memorial observances of the Honorable 
             Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from the State of New 
             Jersey be held in the Senate Chamber on Thursday, June 6, 
             2013, beginning at 2:00 p.m., and that the Senate attend 
             the same.
               Resolved, That paragraph 1 of Rule IV of the Rules for 
             the Regulation of the Senate Wing of the United States 
             Capitol (prohibiting the taking of pictures in the Senate 
             Chamber) be temporarily suspended for the sole and 
             specific purpose of permitting the Senate Photographic 
             Studio to photograph this memorial observance.
               Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms be directed to make 
             necessary and appropriate arrangements in connection with 
             the memorial observances in the Senate Chamber.
               Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
             these resolutions to the House of Representatives, 
             transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 
             deceased, and invite the House of Representatives and the 
             family of the deceased to attend the memorial observances 
             in the Senate Chamber.
               Resolved, That invitations be extended to the President 
             of the United States, the Vice President of the United 
             States, and the members of the Cabinet, the Chief Justice 
             and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United 
             States, the Diplomatic Corps (through the Secretary of 
             State), the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval 
             Operations of the Navy, the Major General Commandant of 
             the Marine Corps, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and 
             the Commandant of the Coast Guard to attend the memorial 
             observances in the Senate Chamber.

               Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. McConnell, Mr. 
             Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. 
             Baucus, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Blunt, 
             Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Burr, Ms. 
             Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
             Chambliss, Mr. Coats, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Ms. 
             Collins, Mr. Coons, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cowan, Mr. 
             Crapo, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. 
             Feinstein, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Flake, Mr. Franken, Mrs. 
             Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. 
             Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Heller, 
             Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Isakson, Mr. 
             Johanns, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. Johnson of South 
             Dakota, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. 
             Landrieu, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Levin, Mr. Manchin, Mr. 
             McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
             Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, 
             Mr. Paul, Mr. Portman, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Risch, Mr. 
             Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
             Schatz, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Scott, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. 
             Shaheen, Mr. Shelby, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thune, 
             Mr. Toomey, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Udall of New 
             Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Warner, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
             Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the 
             following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
                                     S. Res. 161
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg served the 
             people of the State of New Jersey for over 28 years in the 
             United States Senate;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg was the 
             longest serving United States Senator from the State of 
             New Jersey;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg cast 9,267 
             roll call votes--more than any other United States Senator 
             from the State of New Jersey and the 40th most in United 
             States Senate history;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg served on 
             multiple Committees in the Senate including the Committee 
             on the Environment and Public Works; the Committee on 
             Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and the Committee 
             on Appropriations; and served as Chairman of the 
             Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, 
             Toxics, and Environmental Health; the Commerce, Science, 
             and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation 
             and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security; 
             the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation; and the 
             Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services, and 
             General Government;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg enlisted in 
             the United States Army at the age of 18 and served in the 
             European Theater during World War II;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg was able to 
             attend Columbia University as a result of G.I. Bill 
             benefits following his military service;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg co-founded the 
             company Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and worked as its 
             Chief Executive Officer, helping it become one of 
             America's most successful companies;
               Whereas the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg dedicated his 
             Senate career to improving the environment and public 
             health, strengthening our nation's transportation systems 
             and working tirelessly on behalf of the people of New 
             Jersey: Now, therefore, be it
               Resolved, That--
               (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep 
             regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable 
             Frank R. Lautenberg, Senator from the State of New Jersey;
               (2) the Secretary of the Senate shall transmit this 
             resolution to the House of Representatives and transmit an 
             enrolled copy thereof to the family of the deceased; and
               (3) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned 
             as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased 
             Senator.

               Mr. REID of Nevada submitted the following concurrent 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
                                   S. Con. Res. 18
               Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
             concurring), That the Architect of the Capitol is 
             authorized and directed to transfer the catafalque which 
             is situated in the Exhibition Hall of the Capitol Visitor 
             Center to the Senate Chamber so that such catafalque may 
             be used in connection with services to be conducted there 
             for the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from 
             the State of New Jersey.

               Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Senate will not be in 
             session tomorrow to allow Senators to attend Senator 
             Lautenberg's funeral. I would just mention, I just spoke 
             to the Sergeant at Arms Office and the Secretary's Office. 
             They are very impressed with the effusive outpouring of 
             respect for Senator Lautenberg. We have four airplanes 
             going up there. It is so wonderful. I am so impressed. ...
               Mr. President, if there is no further business to come 
             before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn 
             under the provisions of S. Res. 161 as a further mark of 
             respect to the memory of the late Senator Frank R. 
             Lautenberg of New Jersey.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate stands adjourned until 
             9 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, and does so under the 
             provisions of S. Res. 161 as a further mark of respect to 
             the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey.
               Thereupon, the Senate, at 7:14 p.m., adjourned until 
             Thursday, June 6, 2013, at 9 a.m.
                                                 Thursday, June 6, 2013
               Mr. REID. ... Senator Lautenberg will lie in repose in 
             the Senate Chamber this afternoon. Senators will gather at 
             2:15 p.m. in the Ohio Clock corridor to go to the floor 
             and pay their respects.
               I wish to briefly say I truly appreciate, as we all do, 
             Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer and his whole staff for 
             making this so very pleasant--at least as pleasant as a 
             funeral can be. It was truly a celebration.
               Because of the Jewish tradition, this had to be jammed 
             in with not a lot of time, so we were under tremendous 
             pressure. I appreciate the work which allowed us to get 
             this done.
               I appreciate what Secretary Hagel, Ash Carter at the 
             Pentagon, the Assistant Secretary of the Senate, Sheila 
             Dwyer, and her entire staff in the Secretary's Office have 
             done to make this whole situation as pleasant as it has 
             been.

               Mr. REID. Mr. President, this afternoon the Senate will 
             pay its final respects to a friend and a respected 
             colleague--and that is an understatement--Frank 
             Lautenberg. Frank will lie in repose in the Chamber where 
             he spent three decades of his professional life.
               Senator Lautenberg was one of the most effective and 
             productive Senators to serve in the Senate and, as we 
             learned yesterday, one of the most humorous. His 
             leadership as well as his laughter and kindness will be 
             missed.
                                                   Friday, June 7, 2013
               Mr. NELSON. Madam President, I was greatly saddened to 
             learn about the passing of Senator Lautenberg on Monday. I 
             was fortunate to serve with Senator Lautenberg on the 
             Commerce Committee. His life was about public service, 
             plain and simple.
               Frank was a great example of the American dream. Over 
             the past few days we have all heard Frank's story of being 
             born into a Russian and Polish immigrant family, and 
             working his way from humble beginnings to a prosperous 
             career as a chief executive in the private sector. But 
             Frank's true calling was public service and giving back to 
             his community, his State, and our Nation throughout his 
             life. As a young man, he served our country in the U.S. 
             Army in WWII and went to Columbia University on the GI 
             bill.
               In Congress Frank fought to create economic opportunity 
             for all Americans by supporting our public infrastructure. 
             He was a staunch advocate for passenger rail and Amtrak. 
             Frank's achievements on transportation issues were not 
             only concerned with promoting commerce, but also public 
             safety. His work to ban smoking on domestic flights and 
             combat drunk driving has saved countless lives.
               Frank also fought side by side with me on the Aviation 
             Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee of the 
             Senate Commerce Committee to make sure that critical NASA 
             safety research was being shared with the commercial 
             aviation industry to help protect members of the flying 
             public.
               Florida and New Jersey are very different States, but 
             they share a coastline. After the Deepwater Horizon spill 
             devastated the Gulf, I worked with him to stop offshore 
             drilling until more was known about what caused that 
             tragedy. Frank was also a trusted ally in securing 
             essential funding to keep our beaches clean and water safe 
             for people to enjoy.
               Frank was a crucial supporter of many other important 
             environmental causes. He fought to keep our oceans clean 
             by pushing for a ``double-hull'' standard for oil tankers, 
             banning ocean dumping, and taking other steps to promote 
             better water quality. He also sponsored legislation to 
             crack down on companies that release dangerous toxins into 
             the air and water, and make polluters pay for their toxic 
             mess. Frank was a great champion for the environment.
               As the last World War II veteran in the Senate, we lost 
             a true hero on Monday and one of this body's last members 
             of the Greatest Generation.
                                                  Monday, June 10, 2013
                            ORDER FOR PRINTING OF TRIBUTES
               Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             tributes to Frank Lautenberg, the late Senator from New 
             Jersey, be printed as a Senate document and that Members 
             have until 12 noon on Thursday, June 20, to submit said 
             tributes.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
                                               Wednesday, June 12, 2013
               Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, we all lost a dear friend 
             when Frank Lautenberg passed away a little over a week 
             ago. He was a friend, he was a colleague, he was a mentor. 
             In the last Congress I had the opportunity to sit next to 
             him on the floor of the Senate. Our desks were back there 
             in the last row. I tell you--you have heard this many 
             times--but when we had those votearamas Frank kept me very 
             much engaged. His sense of humor, his ability to use 
             contemporary activities with a sense of humor kept us all 
             going. We are certainly going to miss that humor.
               I also sat next to him on the Environment and Public 
             Works Committee. He was a fierce defender of public health 
             and the environment. I am going to certainly miss his 
             advocacy. He was there to protect clean air. He chaired 
             that subcommittee and took on every special interest in 
             order to protect our children and to protect our 
             communities.
               He was a fierce defender of the environment, recognizing 
             we all have a responsibility to pass on the environment in 
             a better condition to future generations.
               His story is a story about the success of America. Here 
             we have a child of an immigrant family that came to this 
             country and started anew with virtually no resources. It 
             is very appropriate that I am talking about Frank 
             Lautenberg on a day in which the immigration reform bill 
             is on the floor of the Senate.
               I know if Frank were here, he would be talking about his 
             own family and his own experiences and why the passage of 
             this immigration bill is so important for America's 
             future. Yes, we are going to do the right thing for the 
             values of America, but we are also going to help America's 
             economic future and our security in the future. He grew up 
             in a family of poverty. His father died when he was very 
             young. He had no choice after high school but to enter the 
             military. But he wanted to enter the military because he 
             wanted to serve his country. So he served in World War II. 
             As we know, he was the last surviving Member of the Senate 
             who served in World War II. He did an incredible service 
             to our country under extremely difficult circumstances. He 
             came back to the United States and this country offered 
             him the GI bill opportunity for education. But for that GI 
             bill Frank Lautenberg never would have had those 
             educational opportunities. He took advantage of it and 
             went to business school. He used that to develop a 
             business that was innovative and creative. There was a 
             need out there to deal with personnel costs by businesses. 
             Frank Lautenberg developed, with his partners, a way in 
             which that service could be provided in the most cost-
             effective way.
               What did that do? That made this country more efficient, 
             more effective. What that did was create a lot of jobs for 
             this country. It also made Frank Lautenberg a fairly 
             wealthy person. That is the American way: innovation to 
             grow our economy, to create jobs, and to benefit by your 
             own innovation. Frank Lautenberg took advantage of that 
             and succeeded in a great way.
               But he was not satisfied with that. He wanted to give 
             back to his community. So he served his community. He 
             served in many ways. There is a whole host of community 
             organizations to which he provided leadership, his own 
             personal time, in order to help people. He did that. 
             Jewish Federation--he became a national leader there to 
             help communities all over the world. Frank Lautenberg did 
             that as a private citizen because he thought it was the 
             right thing to do.
               Then he decided he wanted to serve his community in a 
             different way, so he ran for the Senate, got elected to 
             the Senate, served two different terms in the Senate. He 
             is the only Senator who was both the junior and senior 
             Senator twice from the same State. But he never forgot his 
             roots. He never forgot where he came from. He has a long 
             list of accomplishments, from helping refugees come here 
             to America, to helping keep the air we breathe on airlines 
             safe for our children. The list is voluminous. We have 
             already talked about it. He will be missed by all.
               Our thoughts and prayers are with Bonnie, who we all 
             know so well, and his entire family. To the people of New 
             Jersey and the people of this Nation, Frank Lautenberg was 
             an extraordinary person who made a lasting mark. He will 
             be missed by all. We all know we are better because of 
             having served with him.
                                                  Monday, June 17, 2013
               Mr. CASEY. Madam President. I am honored to join my 
             fellow Senators as we remember our friend and colleague 
             Senator Frank Lautenberg. A dedicated public servant, 
             Frank proudly represented New Jersey almost continuously 
             from 1982 until his death.
               Long before reaching the Senate, Frank Lautenberg had 
             proven himself a patriot. Following his high school 
             graduation, Frank enlisted in the Army and served his 
             country in Europe as a member of the Army Signal Corps 
             during the Second World War. A member of the Greatest 
             Generation and the last World War II veteran to serve in 
             the Senate, Frank was a true public servant.
               Motivated by the desire to give back to the country that 
             provided him with so much, Frank's work in the Senate 
             improved the lives of all Americans and left a lasting 
             impact on our Nation. Through his legislative efforts, 
             Senator Lautenberg helped to safeguard our Nation's 
             transportation infrastructure, increase access to quality 
             health care, and ensure that the brave men and women who 
             serve our country today will have access to the same 
             benefits and opportunities that Frank frequently credited 
             with his success.
               Frank's strong moral character often made him a leader 
             on some of the most pressing issues of the day, and his 
             efforts will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy. Having 
             cast more than 9,000 votes on the floor--more than any 
             previous Senator from New Jersey--Frank played an 
             influential role in shaping important policies, directing 
             funding, and helping people in need.
               On a personal note, I will always recall what a 
             privilege it was to travel to Israel and Turkey with Frank 
             in 2009 as part of a congressional delegation. I admired 
             his strong support of Israel, and he will certainly be 
             remembered as a tireless friend and advocate for that 
             nation.
               In closing, I am reminded of a quotation from President 
             Kennedy. Senator Frank Lautenberg truly was:

               Someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who 
             welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who 
             cares about the welfare of the people--their health, their 
             housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, 
             and their civil liberties.

               We will miss him in this Chamber but our country, and 
             our children have a brighter future because of his 
             dedicated service.
                                                Thursday, June 20, 2013
               Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, with the passing of Senator 
             Frank Lautenberg this month, the Senate lost one of its 
             most respected and accomplished Members--a great 
             progressive driven by a passion for justice and a deep 
             love for this country.
               Indeed, Frank Lautenberg's remarkable life is the 
             American dream personified. He was the son of poor, hard-
             working immigrant parents who entered America through 
             Ellis Island. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II, 
             attended Columbia University thanks to the GI bill, 
             founded an enormously successful company, and was elected 
             five times to the U.S. Senate.
               Senator Lautenberg will be remembered here in the Senate 
             for his tenacity and fearlessness in pursuit of his 
             ambitious legislative goals. Frank was a fighter. Time and 
             again, he took on powerful interests to improve the health 
             and safety of the American people, and countless 
             individuals have led longer, healthier lives as a result 
             of his tireless advocacy.
               One of Senator Lautenberg's great early accomplishments 
             came in 1984, just 2 years into his first term. As a 
             freshman Senator in the minority party, he successfully 
             passed legislation establishing a national drinking age of 
             21. That law alone is estimated to have saved more than 
             25,000 lives. Sixteen years later, he championed 
             legislation effectively creating a nationwide ban on 
             driving by anyone with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or 
             higher, a change that also dramatically reduced alcohol-
             related traffic fatalities.
               I was proud to work closely with Senator Lautenberg in 
             the fight to combat the public health threat posed by 
             tobacco usage. He will forever be remembered as the author 
             of the landmark 1989 law that banned smoking on all 
             domestic airline flights--and that law was just the 
             beginning of his efforts to curb smoking in a broad range 
             of public places. In the current Congress, I was proud to 
             join him in an effort to stop tobacco smuggling and to 
             increase and equalize tobacco taxes.
               Throughout his career, Senator Lautenberg championed 
             women's health issues. He worked to ensure that students 
             have access to comprehensive sex education; that women who 
             go to their neighborhood pharmacy to fill a prescription 
             for birth control cannot be turned away because of the 
             objections of the pharmacist; and that Peace Corps 
             volunteers have access to insurance coverage for abortion 
             services in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment. 
             He also fought for women's reproductive rights 
             internationally and was a longtime advocate for repealing 
             the ``global gag rule'' on federally funded family 
             planning organizations.
               Even in his final months, Frank was unstoppable. He 
             continued the fight to secure relief for victims of 
             Superstorm Sandy. In April, using a wheelchair, he 
             insisted on coming to the Senate floor to cast votes in 
             favor of tougher gun safety legislation. And, to the end, 
             he continued to lead the fight for long overdue 
             legislation to keep Americans safe from thousands of toxic 
             chemicals we encounter in our daily lives, including in 
             furniture, fabrics, and cleaning products. I can think of 
             no better way for Senators to honor our late colleague 
             than by passing chemical safety legislation for the first 
             time in nearly four decades.
               Frank Lautenberg began his career in public service as a 
             citizen soldier in Europe in World War II. It must be 
             noted that Frank was the last veteran of World War II to 
             serve in the Senate. In January, we lost another 
             distinguished veteran of World War II, Senator Dan Inouye. 
             The fact is, for nearly six decades, this institution has 
             been enriched and ennobled by members of the Greatest 
             Generation--people like Philip Hart, Bob Dole, George 
             McGovern, Fritz Hollings, Dan Inouye, and Frank 
             Lautenberg--who began their public service in uniform in 
             wartime, and who brought a special dimension to the 
             Senate. They had a unique perspective on matters of war 
             and peace. They were motivated by a patriotism not of 
             words, but of deeds and sacrifice. They were determined 
             advocates for veterans, including veterans of our most 
             recent wars.
               Here in the Senate and across the Nation, there have 
             been many tributes to our friend Frank Lautenberg. As I 
             said, he was a passionate progressive. He was a tenacious 
             fighter. He was a Senator of many landmark legislative 
             accomplishments. But knowing Frank as a true gentleman and 
             great family man, I can think of no greater tribute than 
             to note that Senator Frank Lautenberg was a man of 
             enormous honor, decency, and graciousness. He was a 
             wonderful friend. May he rest in peace.

               Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to offer some 
             brief reflections on the distinguished service and 
             accomplishments of Senator Frank Lautenberg.
               He possessed an unwavering commitment to our country and 
             its highest ideals of duty and fairness.
               His achievements over a lifetime well lived are 
             impressive. He came from very humble beginnings but showed 
             tremendous determination and tenacity as he achieved 
             success in business and politics.
               Senator Lautenberg was a World War II veteran--serving 
             honorably in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1942 to 1946, 
             posted in Europe with so many other young Americans to 
             fight in a war that had to be fought. In fact, he was the 
             last World War II veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate.
               After the war he like so many benefited from the GI bill 
             and graduated from Columbia University. He had seen the 
             hard work of his parents and began a career in business 
             where he recognized the importance of computer technology 
             well before the advent of many innovations we take for 
             granted today. His success in helping create the Nation's 
             first payroll services company, Automatic Data Processing, 
             could have led Senator Lautenberg anywhere, but it was his 
             desire to give back to his community and to his country 
             that had given him an education and a promising future 
             that led him to the Senate.
               When he set his eye on doing something, being on the 
             other side of him meant you were in for a battle. That 
             resolve may be a reason why he had so many legislative 
             achievements. Indeed, he knew how important infrastructure 
             is to the economy, and his work to preserve and improve 
             Amtrak has helped millions of Americans who rely on rail 
             for commuting, travel, and commerce every day. Growing up 
             in an industrial area, he knew how important it was to 
             respect the environment, so he fought, even when the odds 
             were against him, for cleaning up Superfund sites, 
             improving air quality, and ensuring better oversight of 
             toxic chemicals. And when he saw the health damage that 
             smoking can cause, he led the way to ban smoking on 
             airplanes.
               The issue of gun safety is where I worked most closely 
             with him. Those efforts to stem the flow of guns to 
             criminals, terrorists, and others who shouldn't have 
             access to firearms gave me a deeper appreciation for the 
             strength of his principles and beliefs. There was no one 
             more engaged in this issue, and I know that as the effort 
             continues to close the gun show loophole, his commitment 
             to reducing gun violence in our country will serve as a 
             true guidepost.
               As so many pointed out in the wonderful service 
             remembering Senator Lautenberg, he was tenacious as well 
             as humorous. Indeed, he fought for New Jersey and for what 
             he believed was right each and every single day.
               The Senate and our country have lost an important voice 
             on so many issues, but his work will carry on and not be 
             forgotten. Indeed, the benefits to our Nation of all his 
             efforts and dedication will last for years to come.
               I extend my deepest condolences to Bonnie; his children, 
             Ellen Lautenberg, Nan Morgart, Lisa Birer, and Joshua 
             Lautenberg; his stepchildren, Danielle Englebardt and Lara 
             Englebardt Metz; and his 13 grandchildren, on behalf of 
             myself, my constituents, and the State of Rhode Island. 
             Their loss is greater than ours because they have lost a 
             husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed.

               Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, earlier this 
             month, we lost one of our Nation's most beloved public 
             servants. Senator Frank Lautenberg was a World War II 
             hero, a successful businessman, a statesman--and above all 
             else, a kind and generous man, one that I am honored to 
             have called a friend. Frank will be greatly missed by New 
             Jerseyans, his colleagues in Washington, and his family 
             and friends across the Nation.
               Much can be said about Frank and the priorities he 
             championed. What struck me most is that Frank fought for 
             the little guy. His public career was built on the 
             foundation of being a champion for a safe, clean, healthy, 
             and economically stable America. In the U.S. Senate, he 
             championed efforts to preserve America's landscape and 
             natural beauty. Like me, he believed that America's 
             precious land and resources should be protected and 
             conserved for future generations to honor and enjoy. Frank 
             knew that we don't inherit the land from our ancestors, we 
             borrow it from our children. Frank believed in a 
             sustainable American energy system--one that increases 
             energy independence and prioritizes renewable energy 
             efforts such as wind, solar, and geothermal. As a leading 
             voice in Congress on climate change, Frank was acutely 
             aware of the harmful effects global warming has on our 
             planet, and he led the charge to ensure Americans--and his 
             colleagues--were aware that the overwhelming science 
             should spur us to reverse this dangerous trend.
               Frank's contribution to his State and our Nation extends 
             far beyond his environmental accomplishments. He led 
             policy reforms that are too numerous to catalog here. For 
             example, Frank fought hard to establish health and safety 
             standards and ensured that public health in America was a 
             priority for legislators. A key player behind landmark 
             legislation establishing a Federal blood-alcohol level 
             limit and banning smoking on airplanes, Frank's public 
             health initiatives have improved the lives of millions of 
             Americans. Generations to come will benefit and live 
             longer and healthier lives because of this great American 
             statesman.
               Frank was a real champion for the people of New Jersey, 
             but what many people may not know is that he is also a 
             true friend to my home State of Colorado. From the initial 
             planning stages to the final product, the existence of 
             Denver International Airport, DIA, can be largely 
             attributed to Frank Lautenberg. DIA received an 
             unprecedented amount of Federal financial help, largely in 
             part to Frank's unwavering support of the project. He also 
             publicly supported the construction of C-470, maintaining 
             that the major highway was an essential addition to 
             Colorado commerce and industry. Throughout the country, he 
             supported the development of urban public transportation 
             and pushed to strengthen Amtrak. Without Frank's 
             dedication, our national transportation system would not 
             have kept pace with our growing population.
               After casting his 9,000th vote in 2011, Majority Leader 
             Harry Reid recognized Senator Lautenberg as one of the 
             most productive Senators in the history of this country. 
             Frank's wisdom and tenacity made him an influential figure 
             in the U.S. Senate for nearly 30 years. I am grateful to 
             have served alongside him. His enduring spirit and strong 
             character will not be forgotten within the Halls of 
             Congress.
               My sincerest condolences go out to Frank's family, 
             including his wife, Bonnie Englebardt; 6 children and 
             their spouses, Ellen Lautenberg and Doug Hendel, Nan and 
             Joe Morgart, Josh and Christina Lautenberg, Lisa and Doug 
             Birer, Danielle Englebardt and Stuart Katzoff, Lara 
             Englebardt Metz and Corey Metz; and 13 grandchildren.

               Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, it is a great privilege 
             to rise and honor the late Senator Frank Lautenberg. I 
             think I speak for many of my colleagues when I say he was 
             a true hero to New Jersey and in the Senate, a self-made 
             man, and an inspiration to us all.
               I was proud to count Frank as a good friend and mentor. 
             We shared similar backgrounds--children of Eastern 
             European immigrants--and similar convictions. I will never 
             forget Senator Lautenberg's courage when he cast important 
             votes on gun violence prevention just a few months before 
             his death. He had a renewed hope that we could save many 
             lives and prevent more Americans from facing the senseless 
             violence that we all experienced with the tragedy at Sandy 
             Hook Elementary School. In tribute to Frank, and to the 
             Newtown families, I will continue to fight for gun 
             violence legislation. I am sure that Frank would agree 
             that this battle will be a marathon, not a sprint, and we 
             need to keep pushing forward.
               Many have risen over the last few weeks to pay tribute 
             to Frank. I am similarly humbled by his many years of 
             service and the number of accomplishments that we can 
             attribute to his leadership. As the last serving World War 
             II veteran, his bravery in battle will never be forgotten. 
             He was a relentless and unremitting fighter for public 
             health causes, such as controlling the harmful effects of 
             public tobacco use, raising the drinking age to 21, and 
             banning toxic household chemicals. He was determined to 
             witness the effects of his legislative efforts, and many 
             times he did live to see the results of his tremendous 
             work.
               Frank was a champion of the rail community for many 
             years, leading transportation safety issues. Throughout 
             his tenure he improved passenger rail systems, protected 
             Amtrak, and pushed for improvements to high-speed rail. 
             Frank was certainly in my thoughts as I chaired a hearing 
             of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
             yesterday on rail safety. I am grateful for his tenacity 
             and proactivity on these issues.
               We have lost Frank Lautenberg's stirring presence on the 
             floor, but never in our hearts. For 28 years he pushed for 
             important changes as a force for good, refusing to give up 
             the public fight for his steadfast convictions. Cynthia 
             and I send our love to Bonnie and the Lautenberg family.
                                               Wednesday, June 26, 2013
               Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to recognize a man, 
             Albert Carey Caswell, who has dedicated his life to 
             recounting the stories of our Nation's history to the 
             visitors of the U.S. Capitol, as well as many others who 
             have participated in Albert's tours.
               Albert's poetic talent and upbeat attitude has enriched 
             the lives of his colleagues, Senators, staff, and visitors 
             during his nearly 30-year career in the U.S. Capitol.
               Albert is known for his gift of words, in poetry and in 
             prose, which have left an indelible mark on the 
             Congressional Record, as more than 150 of his poems are 
             included in there. More recently, Albert wrote a poem to 
             honor the late Senator Lautenberg from New Jersey.
               Albert got to know Senator Lautenberg from years of 
             escorting veterans around the U.S. Capitol. Albert had 
             immense respect for Senator Lautenberg's military record 
             as well as for his enduring commitment to public service.
               Mr. President, I share Albert's ``Let's Be Frank'' poem 
             for all to read.
                                    Let's Be Frank
              Let's!
              Let's be Frank!
              Of how his long fine life upon this earth so ranks!
              Now, that's a Laut En Berg
              For he was but a public servant,
              Who our Nation all so Heard!

              A Jersey Boy
              Who so lived The Great American Dream
              Who so looked as if he would live forever,
              As so it seemed!
              In his 80's
              he looked like he was in his 60's ...

              Because, hard work was but his life's dignity!
              Give me your tired and your poor!
              As America opened up her arms and her doors ...
              To a family who came from far across the dark deep 
               shores!

              When,
              at the edge ... as Mankind bled!
              He volunteered to join the Army
              As he so raised his hand and his life so pledged
              To Save The World
              In a World War!
              While, Fighting in The Big One ...
              So far across those most distant shores!

              And came back home,
              and yet still to more greatness his heart of courage 
               roamed!
              As he took that GI Bill
              And climbed another hill

             With now a great education he so owned
              ADP,
              as him and his friends built a great American Company!
              But deep down inside
             something far much more important out to him so cried!
              To serve his country and beloved New Jersey,
              his heart would decide!

              Like his favorite band Bon Jovi,
              ``like a cowboy'' he wanted it ``dead or alive!''
              Until, finally rising all the way to the top,
              To The Senate Floor where he would so stop as he so 
               strived!

              In thirty years,
              It became oh so very clear!
              The title of a United States Senator,
              He was so meant to own!
              Upon the Senate floor,
              where his great shadow would be so cast for evermore!

              Now Let's Be Frank,
              you were one hell of a public servant and that's for 
               sure!
              For yours was a life of standing tall
              To somehow,
              someway make it a better world for one and all!

              For you had a style and a grace!
              And a look and a smile upon your face!
              And a presence and a command
              That so said that you so belonged in this place!

              And even though you retired,
              you went home and still you had the fire!
              So you came back,
              To every one here to so inspire!

              Let's Be Frank,
              one could not have lived a life much more higher!
              Right up to the end,
              What you did Frank meant so very much!
              But as a family man,
              as where your greatest accomplishments would stand as 
               such!

              For Frank,
              you were a giver not a taker!
              And it's clear a better world on your life's journey,
              You would so make here!

              But there's more debates,
              Byrd, Stevens, and Teddy up in Heaven you now await!
              And all of your GI buddies,
              Who the trip home with you never made

              Let's Be Frank,
              wouldn't we all want to live a long life so great!
              Because all in the end,
              it's far, far, far better to give, than to take!
              Let's Be Frank!


                     Proceedings in the House of Representatives
                                                   Monday, June 3, 2013
               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
             privileged resolution, and ask for its immediate 
             consideration.
               The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
                                     H. Res. 242
               Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow 
             of the death of the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, a 
             Senator from the State of New Jersey.
               Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House 
             as the Speaker may designate, together with such Members 
             of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the 
             funeral.
               Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions 
             to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of 
             the deceased.
               Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn 
             as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased 
             Senator.

               The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey 
             is recognized for 1 hour.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker and Members of the 
             House, it is my sad duty to inform you that Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg has passed away. He died from complications 
             from viral pneumonia this morning at New York Presbyterian 
             Hospital. Frank Lautenberg was 89 years old.
               I join with my friends and colleagues from our 
             delegation--and, I know, with the entire House--in 
             expressing our profound sorrow to his family--his wife, 
             Bonnie, his 6 children, and his 13 grandchildren. Senator 
             Lautenberg will be deeply missed.
               We will have a Special Order to honor this wonderful 
             man, but just one point: that with his passing he is the 
             last of World War II--of the Greatest Generation--to serve 
             in the U.S. Senate, and I want everyone to know he will be 
             deeply missed. I personally worked very closely with him 
             on a number of issues, in particular on combating anti-
             Semitism, so I just want to say that we are all in sorrow 
             for his passing. We pray for him and for his family.
               I would like to yield to my good friend and colleague 
             from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for any comments he might 
             have.

               Mr. PALLONE. I want to thank my colleague.
               It's really with a great deal of sadness that we come to 
             the well this evening to announce--or to comment, if you 
             will--on Senator Lautenberg's passing.
               I really can't imagine the Congress without him. I 
             worked on his campaign from the very first day in 1982, 
             and he was the longest serving Member of the U.S. Senate 
             from the State of New Jersey in our entire history.
               The fact of the matter is that Senator Lautenberg was 
             always there for the little guy. Many of you know that he 
             was a wealthy individual, but he never forgot his roots, 
             and they were very humble roots. He always believed that 
             the Congress should be there for people in need and that 
             the American dream required that everyone had an equal 
             opportunity and that Congress could do things. Frank 
             Lautenberg understood that there were a lot of problems 
             out there, but he felt that Congress needed to work 
             together on a bipartisan basis to solve those problems.
               There are so many that I can mention, but I won't. 
             Whether it was the Nation's infrastructure, mass transit, 
             all of the environmental concerns, whether he wanted to 
             clean up the ocean or clean the air or clean the water for 
             the next generation, he really believed that things could 
             get done here, and he worked hard to get things done. We 
             know, more than anybody else, he was able to accomplish a 
             lot because of the hard work that he put into it.
               So I just want to thank him for all of that and for his 
             legacy, and I want to express sympathy, obviously, to 
             Bonnie and his family. He will be missed for what he 
             accomplished and also for what he told us about what our 
             job is when we're here--to get things done and to worry 
             about the little guy and to make sure that we are always 
             out there, working every day to make this a better 
             country.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to my colleague from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

               Mr. LANCE. Thank you, Congressman Pallone, and thank 
             you, Congressman Smith, the dean of the delegation.
               Senator Lautenberg was a tenacious fighter for the 9 
             million residents of the State of New Jersey, and tenacity 
             was at the heart of his public service. New Jersey is a 
             State that is complex and that is comprised of many 
             different ethnicities, and Senator Lautenberg represented 
             all of us extremely well. The only person in the history 
             of the State to serve five terms in the U.S. Senate, 
             Senator Lautenberg died with his boots on in the saddle as 
             he would have wished.
               He was extremely proud of his roots in Paterson, a great 
             industrial city in this Nation, where he was born and 
             raised; and at age 18 he went off to war, World War II, as 
             one of the Greatest Generation. Senator Lautenberg was the 
             beneficiary of the GI bill of rights, and he was able to 
             attend Columbia University from which he graduated after 
             the Second World War, and his brilliant career in the 
             private sector at ADP is a hallmark to the entrepreneurial 
             spirit of the American people; but he recognized that he 
             could do more for the people of our State and of the 
             Nation when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1982, 
             reelected in 1988 and reelected again in 1994, a hiatus of 
             2 years, then elected for a fourth term in 2002, and again 
             for a fifth term in 2008. He was a person of perseverance.
               To Mrs. Lautenberg and the Lautenberg children and 
             family, we extend our profound sympathy. The people of New 
             Jersey and, might I suggest, the Nation, are saddened by 
             his death.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

               Mr. ANDREWS. I thank my friends and colleagues for 
             joining in this moment of solemn remembrance.
               There is not a corner of our State that does not bear 
             the manifestation of the greatness of Senator Lautenberg's 
             career. Some of the manifestations are functional and 
             somewhat ordinary--bridges and exit ramps--but so many of 
             the things are things of beauty and splendor. This is a 
             person who risked his life for his country in the Second 
             World War and who gave his life to building a successful 
             business and building a great State and a great country.
               We are profoundly saddened by his loss, but we are 
             heartened by his example, and I thank all of us on both 
             sides of the aisle for remembering him. Our prayers go to 
             his family, and our thanks go to him for a great life well 
             led.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

               Mr. PASCRELL. Frank Lautenberg was my friend for 45 
             years. We drank the same water in Paterson, NJ. He was a 
             person of very small means when you looked at his mom and 
             dad. They worked in the factories in Paterson, NJ, as so 
             many other people did. His father died when he was 43 
             years of age. He got sick from the jobs that he had when 
             there was no protection for workers, not like it is now.
               Now, can you picture this in a garage in Paterson, NJ, 
             off of Carroll Street, four guys together, putting a 
             company together, that if you didn't invest in it you 
             kicked yourself after that, ADP?
               He had a business acumen, a business sense, that went 
             beyond votes on the floor of the Senate. He was a good 
             guy, and I know that the talking heads would say he was a 
             liberal's liberal. Frank Lautenberg was a very basic, 
             conservative guy when it came to our values in this 
             country. He was not a spectator by any stretch. He was in 
             there. He was in the battle. He came back to School No. 6 
             on Mercer Street in Paterson to take care of those kids, 
             to give them computers and to say make sure you take care 
             of those computers because this is going to get you, 
             perhaps, on a path to something better in life for you and 
             your family. He didn't forget it. A lot of people say he 
             didn't forget his roots. That's a wave. That's a passing 
             by. He was not that kind of a person.
               So, to Bonnie and to his beautiful family, our best, 
             deepest feelings of condolences and sorrow.
               We don't know what we've lost--we never do--but we pray 
             that everyone begins to understand, at least now, that 
             each of us is significant, that each of us is important 
             and, as Frank would say, that no one is better than anyone 
             else.
               God bless Frank Lautenberg.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

               Mr. HOLT. We mark with sorrow and admiration the loss of 
             Frank Lautenberg--a loss to Bonnie and his family, a loss 
             to this Congress, a loss to New Jersey, a loss to America.
               He served in the Army as a youngster. His father died 
             while he was serving in the Second World War--and 
             ``serve'' is the right word. He saw service as his duty, 
             as his life--serving other people, never forgetting the 
             common person and the common good. Whether he was working 
             for public health or individual health care or education 
             or was helping prevent bullying in schools or was teaching 
             foreign languages or was providing for safety in chemical 
             plants, he was thinking about the ordinary person. He 
             never forgot that, he never stopped fighting, and the 
             people of New Jersey knew that. They knew they had 
             somebody in the Senate who was looking out for them.
               What I think of most is his work that he did on the 
             Transportation Subcommittee about the blood alcohol level 
             and drunk driving. He did more than any other single 
             person in this country to prevent drunk driving. You could 
             fill many football stadiums with people who are alive 
             today because of Frank Lautenberg. The interesting thing 
             is that not one of them would know they are indebted to 
             him for that legislation.
               We have a lot to be grateful for to Frank Lautenberg, 
             and his legacy is something that we should work hard to 
             continue.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).

               Mr. GARRETT. To the dean of the delegation and to the 
             rest of my colleagues from New Jersey, Washington, DC, the 
             Senate, the Chambers will not be the same without Frank 
             Lautenberg walking about.
               He is and he was a man who lived truly an extraordinary 
             life. You've heard of his humble beginnings that Bill, I 
             guess, knows pretty well, of his growing up in that 
             neighborhood and going on to fight through World War II, 
             as Leonard points out; and of that extraordinary 
             entrepreneurial spirit. In all of those ways, he lived an 
             extraordinary life that left an extraordinary impact upon 
             the people of his community and the State and on all of 
             those people who benefited from his business acumen--to be 
             able to use that service--to the jobs that he provided and 
             then to take that and bring it here to Washington and the 
             benefits that he provided even far beyond his own humble 
             beginnings back in Paterson, NJ, but across the country as 
             well.
               So we come here today, joined in the thought that our 
             prayers are with him, his family, his children, and 
             grandchildren. We just hope that through this difficult 
             time that they must be going through that they can find 
             some solace in the fact that so many people who have come 
             here today and who are back in New Jersey respect him and 
             appreciate him and thank him for what he did for the 
             State.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Sires).

               Mr. SIRES. I want to thank my colleagues for being here 
             today and for expressing the sentiment toward a friend.
               I knew Frank Lautenberg for a long time. I was a mayor 
             when I first met him. He never changed. He was a fighter. 
             He was a real product of New Jersey in his coming from 
             Paterson, serving in the service, starting a business. He 
             became one of the best Senators we ever had in New Jersey. 
             He was a man who had a vision, because he was one of the 
             first ones who saw that riding on a plane and having 
             somebody smoking next to you was not healthy. Frank fought 
             that fight, and President Reagan signed it into law.
               So, today, New Jersey is sad. It's sad because one of 
             its own is not going to be with us any more. Right down to 
             the end, Frank fought. I will remember him fighting 
             Governor Christie. I remember him fighting for the tunnel. 
             So we are all sad in New Jersey today.
               To the whole family, we extend our condolences.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).

               Mr. RUNYAN. I, too, want to reflect on all of the kind 
             and gracious words that my colleagues have expressed up 
             here.
               I, only being in my second term, can't say that I knew 
             Frank that well, but I want to point out one thing: that 
             it's unfortunate that sometimes it takes someone's passing 
             to realize all of the great things he did in his life. 
             I've learned in coming here to Washington sometimes that 
             people forget they are people who come here to represent 
             the people back home, and you forget about the good deeds, 
             the hard work. When you look at what Frank did, working 
             every single day until today, that is something that, I 
             think, we as Americans do--take that work ethic into 
             everything we do every single day. That's what makes us 
             the greatest country in the world.
               With Frank's obviously being that type of role model, I 
             think we are all saddened by his passing. We will miss 
             him. Again, our condolences go out to his family, and I 
             thank you all for taking time out to recognize him as an 
             individual because, I think, sometimes that is lost.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from 
             New Jersey (Mr. Payne).

               Mr. PAYNE. Thank you to my colleagues from New Jersey 
             and in the House of Representatives.
               Once again, I stand here in almost over a year with 
             sorrow in my heart. The New Jersey delegation has lost 
             another great member.
               Senator Lautenberg had been an example to me over the 
             course of his career. I'd seen him in many instances in 
             Newark and in other settings, and he always had a common 
             message to young people. It was that there was nothing 
             special about me that you could not do this yourself. If 
             you applied yourself in school, worked hard, honored your 
             country, and did the things that were right, one day you 
             could be in this position as well.
               Frank Lautenberg embodies what a New Jerseyan is. So 
             look at his career. Look at his life. He is a true New 
             Jerseyan. He will sorely be missed in this delegation, in 
             this House, in this Congress, and in this country. My 
             condolences to his family on this sad occasion.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, Frank Lautenberg 
             will be missed. As you could hear from my colleagues on 
             both sides of the aisle, it is a great loss for the State 
             of New Jersey. We will have a Special Order next Tuesday 
             to speak even more to his legacy.
               With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

               Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, today our country mourns the 
             loss of Senator Frank Lautenberg--a man whose life 
             embodied the American dream and who dedicated his career 
             to putting that dream in reach for all Americans. The 
             longest serving Senator in New Jersey's history and the 
             last remaining World War II veteran in the Senate, he 
             served us all with the strength, perseverance, and 
             compassion that exemplifies the Greatest Generation.
               A proud son of hard-working immigrants, Senator 
             Lautenberg rose from humble beginnings to meet great 
             success in business and public service. He was an 
             entrepreneur who turned a small business into one of the 
             largest computing services companies in the world. He was 
             a soldier who put his life on the line to protect our 
             country. He was a Senator who helped ban smoking in 
             airplanes and around children, who worked to ensure 
             parents could take time off to care for sick family 
             members, who helped modernize the GI bill to ensure 
             today's veterans could benefit from the same opportunity 
             that he received.
               Senator Lautenberg spent each day fighting to protect 
             and improve the health, security, and well-being of every 
             American. His lifetime of service leaves a legacy we must 
             follow, and an expectation we must meet. We only hope it 
             is a comfort to his wife Bonnie, his children, and 
             grandchildren, that so many mourn their loss at this sad 
             time.
               The previous question was ordered.
               The resolution was agreed to.
               A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

               Ms. MOORE. ... I was very moved earlier by the tribute 
             that our colleagues on a bipartisan basis made to Senator 
             Lautenberg upon his passing. Once again, here's an example 
             of an American who ultimately became very wealthy, but it 
             was because America embraced him with their values.
               He went to school on the GI bill. He was able to go to 
             school. He did not have any wealth. Because he was an 
             American and an American soldier, he was able to benefit 
             from our community of interests to build not only a great 
             Senator, but great economic enterprises and a lot of jobs 
             that he created. That's the way America is supposed to 
             work. We need to realize that educational opportunity is 
             one of our basic strategies for staying on top in a global 
             economy.

               Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened 
             when I learned of the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg. 
             I am certain that anyone who had ever met Senator 
             Lautenberg would agree, regardless of political party 
             affiliation, that he was a remarkable statesman and hard-
             working government servant. The longest serving Senator in 
             New Jersey's history, he was gifted in interpersonal 
             relations, and recognized for reaching across the aisle to 
             benefit the people of his State, and the citizens of our 
             Nation as a whole. As the last veteran to serve in World 
             War II in the U.S. Senate, he represented a generation of 
             leaders who left a legacy of service that continues to 
             inspire all Americans.
               A proud son of hard-working immigrants, Senator 
             Lautenberg rose from humble beginnings to attain success 
             in business and public service. He was an incredibly 
             efficient entrepreneur who turned a small business into 
             one of the largest computing services companies in the 
             world; a soldier who put his life on the line to protect 
             our country; a Senator who helped ban smoking in airplanes 
             and around children, who worked to ensure parents could 
             take time off to care for sick family members, and the 
             Senator who helped modernize the GI bill to ensure today's 
             veterans could benefit from the same opportunities he did.
               Additionally, throughout his years in the U.S. Senate, 
             he worked tirelessly to secure investments in 
             infrastructure for the Northeast Corridor, and it was in 
             the area of transportation that I personally worked with 
             Senator Lautenberg as a close partner. Senator 
             Lautenberg's staunch efforts to augment Amtrak and 
             commuter rail parallel my own. As the chair of the House 
             Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads under a House 
             Democratic majority, we worked closely to increase funding 
             for Amtrak and passenger rail both in the Northeast 
             Corridor and throughout the entire United States.
               Senator Lautenberg, who served on four Commerce, 
             Science, and Transportation subcommittees, including 
             Aviation Operations and Surface Transportation, helped 
             save Amtrak from budget hawks; supported tarmac delay 
             protections for airline passengers; was instrumental in 
             increasing transportation spending for mass transportation 
             and other infrastructure improvements; succeeded in 
             getting stricter limits on drinking and driving, and 
             managed to get smoking banned from airplanes, among 
             numerous other transportation-related accomplishments.
               In fact, Senator Lautenberg wrote the 2008 law to 
             increase Amtrak funding and create the Nation's high-speed 
             rail grant program. In 2011 he got the Northeast Corridor 
             designated as a federally recognized high-speed rail 
             corridor, which allowed Amtrak to receive $450 million in 
             Federal funding for high-speed rail upgrades, and the 
             Secaucus Junction train station in fact, is named after 
             him.
               He fought New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over the 
             ARC Tunnel, a rail improvement Senator Lautenberg saw as 
             essential for allowing the continued flow of commuters 
             between New Jersey and New York under the Hudson River. 
             The Gateway Tunnel project, a substitute for ARC, is under 
             development and just received a promise of $185 million in 
             Federal funds. Frank Lautenberg's dream of an intermodal 
             freight policy is also on its way toward being realized, 
             thanks to increased Federal attention on creating a 
             national freight strategic plan. Complete streets 
             policies, which he consistently supported, are in place in 
             nearly 500 communities around the country, and his zeal to 
             create a national infrastructure bank as a way to invite 
             more private investors to partner with the government on 
             infrastructure is still struggling for wide acceptance.
               I join in expressing my prayers and condolences to his 
             wife, Bonnie, and to his children, his grandchildren, his 
             entire family, and to the people of New Jersey.
                                     ADJOURNMENT
               Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the 
             House do now adjourn.
               The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 
             36 minutes p.m.), under its previous order and pursuant to 
             House Resolution 242, the House adjourned until tomorrow, 
             Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at 10 a.m., for morning-hour 
             debate, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
             late Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg.
                                                Wednesday, June 5, 2013
               Mr. BUTTERFIELD. ... The recent passing of Senator 
             Lautenberg earlier this week, the last remaining World War 
             II veteran in the Senate, is a strong reminder that our 
             time is running out to recognize those who are lesser 
             known but still contributed significantly to the World War 
             II effort. Few have given more to this country than 
             Senator Lautenberg, and I pray that his family has peace 
             in the weeks and months to come. He will be missed. ...
                                                 Tuesday, June 11, 2013
               The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Brooks of Indiana). Under 
             the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2013, the 
             gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) is recognized for 60 
             minutes as the designee of the majority leader.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, last week New 
             Jersey lost its senior Senator, and the Senate lost its 
             last remaining World War II veteran when Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg passed away at the age of 89. He died from 
             complications from viral pneumonia in New York 
             Presbyterian Hospital.
               Since then, on this floor on multiple occasions, in the 
             U.S. Senate, throughout the State of New Jersey, and, 
             frankly, across the Nation, all of us have paused to 
             express our deepest respect for Senator Lautenberg and 
             sorrow on his passing. To Senator Lautenberg's family--his 
             wife, Bonnie, his 6 children, and his 13 grandchildren--
             please accept our deepest condolences and our prayers.
               Senator Lautenberg served five terms in the U.S. Senate 
             on behalf of the people of the State of New Jersey. He was 
             first elected to the Senate in 1982, reelected in 1988 and 
             1994. After a brief retirement, Senator Lautenberg made an 
             unexpected comeback and won a fourth term in 2002 and was 
             again reelected in 2008.
               In December 2011 he cast his 9,000th vote and now holds 
             the record for the most votes ever cast by a New Jersey 
             Senator.
               While serving in the Senate, Frank Lautenberg became a 
             leader of public health and safety issues. He led the 
             effort to ban smoking on airplanes with the enactment of 
             Public Law 101-164, and will forever be remembered for his 
             efforts to protect individuals and children from 
             secondhand smoke.
               Frank Lautenberg also fought for transportation 
             improvements and chemical plant safety. As the author of 
             the Lautenberg amendment, he worked to assist members from 
             historically persecuted groups with a credible fear of 
             persecution to qualify for refugee status, including 
             religiously persecuted Soviet Jews. He also fought for 
             relief for the victims of terrorist attacks, including the 
             first responders who experienced health complications 
             after the 9/11 attacks, and for the families and 
             communities across our State recently devastated by 
             Superstorm Sandy.
               Senator Lautenberg was the last veteran of World War 
             II--part of the Greatest Generation--to serve in the U.S. 
             Senate. The son of poor immigrants, he enlisted in the 
             Army to serve his country in uniform, went to school on 
             the GI bill, began a successful business, and then ran for 
             the Senate to, in his words, ``pursue a career in public 
             service and to give back to the country that helped give 
             him so much.''
               Senator Lautenberg has been a mainstay of New Jersey 
             politics for decades, and with his passing, the Senate and 
             our State have lost a dedicated public servant.
               I now yield to the former mayor of Paterson, a good 
             friend and colleague, Congressman Bill Pascrell.

               Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you, Congressman Smith, for your 
             great service to your State and your country.
               Madam Speaker, we've lost a great man. When Senator 
             Lautenberg passed away Monday morning I lost a good 
             friend. The Silk City has produced many great individuals 
             and characters alike, but few, if any, have a life story 
             like that of Frank Lautenberg.
               Like me, Frank grew up on the streets of Paterson--
             literally. Both of us came from families of immigrants who 
             came to Paterson, like pilgrims--like Plymouth Rock. It 
             was Paterson/Plymouth Rock. That's what it was, when you 
             come down to it.
               We had the same dream. Many thousands in our city had 
             the same dream. Through hard work and determination, we 
             learned that you could provide your children with a better 
             life and a successful future. Despite all their dreams for 
             their young son, I don't think that Sam and Molly 
             Lautenberg, Frank's dutiful parents, deceased, ever could 
             have imagined all that Frank would eventually achieve. 
             Only in America.
               Then again, Frank never forgot the sacrifices family 
             made for him. He learned what real hard work was from his 
             father, who labored in the silk mills of Paterson to 
             provide for his family. He learned how to persevere from 
             his mother, who raised him in the face of poverty. They 
             lived in four or five different places in Paterson as they 
             moved around.
               His dad was 43 when he passed away. In the face of 
             poverty, at the age of 19, Frank Lautenberg had to summon 
             all those lessons and more when his father passed away 
             leaving him to support the entire family. He never forgot 
             those hard lessons. They served him well throughout all 
             the journeys of his life.
               He spoke about those journeys every time he came before 
             a classroom in Paterson, NJ. He visited, revisited, and 
             revisited and brought computers. And, of course, ADP was 
             one of the great corporations in America, formed in a 
             garage in the back of a house in Paterson, NJ.
               I say, Madam Speaker, how many people must be kicking 
             themselves for not having invested way back when they 
             thought it was a wild idea, taking care of people's 
             payroll.
               It's not easy to grow up on the streets of Paterson, NJ. 
             Take it from me personally, Congressman Smith. You have to 
             fight for every inch in order to get ahead.
               Frank truly embodied what it means to be a fighter. 
             That's what made him such a successful representative from 
             New Jersey. You've heard the Congressman, Congressman 
             Smith, specify all of the issues that he was involved in; 
             and when he was involved, he was totally immersed in the 
             subject therein to help Americans.
               It didn't matter what nationality, what ethnicity, what 
             color. It didn't matter what religion. It mattered that 
             you were a human being in the greatest country in the 
             world. He talked about it often.
               When he came back from the service, he talked about it. 
             He served his country in the Second World War.
               Regardless of how you feel on issues, you don't take on 
             the gun lobby to ban firearms for domestic violence 
             offenders, you don't take on Big Tobacco to ban smoking on 
             airplanes without getting a few scars in the process.
               The thing Frank's opponents didn't realize was that he 
             got his scars long ago, growing up on the streets of 
             Paterson, NJ. His roots are exactly what made Frank so 
             successful, first in the Army, then in the private sector, 
             and, finally, in the hallowed Halls of the U.S. Senate.
               Despite all that he achieved, he never forgot where he 
             came from. That's the secret. When you forget where you 
             come from, when you forget your roots, when you forget the 
             street you lived on, the guys and the gals that you talked 
             to, your mom and dad, how they sweated it out every day, I 
             mean, when you worked in those silk mills it was no day at 
             the beach, not by any stretch of the imagination.
               We, many times, forget our roots, Congressman Smith, and 
             you know that. We forget where we came from. We think 
             we're better. If you're a Congressman, oh, God. He never 
             forgot where he came from. Despite all that, what he 
             achieved, he knew his roots.
               One of the proudest moments of my career was standing 
             shoulder to shoulder with him when we were able to 
             successfully pass legislation to finally establish the 
             Great Falls National Historic Park in Paterson, NJ. It's 
             our Yellowstone. It's our Grand Canyon. It doesn't take up 
             nearly the amount of space, but it meant so much to not 
             only Patersonians, but people in that area, Paterson, the 
             third largest city in New Jersey, first industrial city.
               Alexander Hamilton knew what he was doing. Frank 
             Lautenberg knew what he was doing.
               We'd been pushing many years for Federal recognition. In 
             fact, I still have a picture hanging in my office of 
             Senator Lautenberg and me touring the Great Falls when I 
             was the mayor of that city. In the true Paterson spirit, 
             despite opposition from the Park Service--we weren't 
             getting off to a good start--and opponents in Congress who 
             never wanted to see an urban national park, we never 
             stopped fighting.
               Just a few years ago, we finally reached our dream to 
             get the Great Falls the Federal designation it deserves. 
             Members of both sides of the aisle came together. On that 
             day, when Secretary Salazar was there, Democrats and 
             Republicans joined together where industry started in this 
             great Nation.
               The park is now in the first stages of its development, 
             and I believe one day it will be a crown jewel in the 
             National Park System, thanks in no small part to our great 
             Senator. It's a fitting legacy for him to leave to the 
             city he loved so much.
               These last few months, with his health getting weaker, 
             necessitating long absences from the Senate, Frank never 
             lost his passion for the issues he had spent his entire 
             life defending. Despite his health, he came to Washington 
             to cast a critical vote on a bill to expand background 
             checks. No one was going to stop Frank Lautenberg from 
             fighting to make this world a better place. Even the 
             limitations of his own body couldn't hold him back.
               I join my friends and neighbors in Paterson, where he 
             used to cut his hair, Pasadena Pete's, where he used to 
             stop at the markets, and he'd stop in to a coffee shop 
             downtown. We mourn this tremendous loss of one of our 
             favorite sons, one of our patriots.
               He was a person first. He was a legislator second. He 
             was the same man on the street that he was on the Senate 
             floor. You always got the genuine article.
               Frank Lautenberg was not a spectator to life. Frank 
             Lautenberg was a leader, a loving husband, a loving 
             father, a trusted friend, and a true Patersonian.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Pascrell, I want to thank 
             you for your very eloquent remembrances of Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg and for your wonderful insights, especially as 
             the former mayor and someone who has known him so 
             intimately and so well for so many years. Thank you very 
             much for that.
               I'd like to now yield to my friend and colleague, Mr. 
             Payne.

               Mr. PAYNE. Thank you. I want to thank my colleague, 
             Congressman Smith, for hosting this Special Order today.
               Madam Speaker, I come before you today saddened by the 
             passing of a fellow New Jerseyan. He was a dear friend and 
             colleague, the honorable and venerated Senator from New 
             Jersey, Senator Frank Lautenberg.
               If anyone could embody the actual definition of the 
             American dream, it would be Frank Lautenberg. Born the son 
             of Russian and Polish immigrants in Paterson, NJ, he grew 
             up during the Great Depression.
               When war hit our shores, he bravely served the country 
             he loved in World War II, and he was the last of our 
             Senators to do so.
               When he returned home from the war, Senator Lautenberg 
             earned his degree on the GI bill, which he later staunchly 
             advocated the extension of for our current men and women 
             in uniform.
               Never taking for granted the opportunities that lay 
             before him, after his graduation, he and three of his 
             friends, with just an idea and an entrepreneurial spirit, 
             began an extremely successful company, ADP. If you get a 
             payroll check these days, it is likely ADP printed your 
             check. I guess you could say Senator Lautenberg was the 
             proof that anything is possible if you firmly believe in 
             what you're doing and what you put your mind to.
               Later, he seamlessly transitioned from CEO of ADP to 
             public servant, often demonstrating determination, grit, 
             and leadership throughout his time in office that came to 
             define Frank Lautenberg.
               Throughout his five terms in office, Senator Lautenberg 
             never forgot his roots. He was a committed advocate for 
             the working middle class from which he came. As Senator 
             Lautenberg knew best, we've got to open doors and not slam 
             them shut. He always practiced this outlook, no matter 
             what he set out to achieve.
               He tirelessly worked to make health care and higher 
             education more affordable for working and middle class 
             families. Even into his later years, Senator Lautenberg 
             was one of the leading progressives on social issues. 
             Thanks to Senator Lautenberg and his tremendous 
             environmental work, we have cleaner water to drink and 
             cleaner air to breathe.
               He also recognized early on the proliferation of gun 
             violence in our communities and the damage it was doing to 
             our children and families. As a champion of gun safety 
             legislation, he made our neighborhoods a safer place to 
             work and live.
               Nothing was going to keep Senator Lautenberg from 
             casting a critical vote on background checks on gun 
             purchases this past spring. Though the late Senator did 
             not get to witness the successful passage of this 
             legislation, the fight in Washington will continue as we 
             carry out the work of Senator Lautenberg's vision to keep 
             our families and our children safer.
               In closing, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to 
             Bonnie, his daughter who I was able to meet last week, and 
             his grandchildren. I had the honor of attending Senator 
             Lautenberg's final tribute last week, and it was clear 
             from that beautiful ceremony the incredible impact Senator 
             Lautenberg has had on so many lives.
               Senator Frank Lautenberg had a love of life and a 
             commitment to the people in New Jersey that will be deeply 
             missed in the Halls of Congress and in New Jersey. He was 
             a great mentor to me, especially as the newest member of 
             the New Jersey delegation. I will forever be grateful for 
             his guidance and for all the tremendous work he did for 
             New Jersey and our great Nation. We owe him an immense 
             debt of gratitude for making New Jersey a better place to 
             live. There is no doubt Senator Lautenberg will certainly 
             be missed.

               Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Payne, thank you very much 
             for your moving words and sentiments expressed today.
               I yield back the balance of my time.

               Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to join 
             my colleagues from New Jersey in paying tribute to our 
             late senior Senator, Frank R. Lautenberg.
               For the past several days, America has been reintroduced 
             to Senator Lautenberg, and it is a story worth repeating 
             here.
               He came from a family of working class immigrants from 
             Eastern Europe--Russia and Poland.
               When he was 18, during the middle of World War II, Frank 
             Lautenberg enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served with 
             distinction in the Signal Corps.
               He was very proud of his military service. In fact, when 
             he passed last week, he was the last World War II veteran 
             serving in the U.S. Senate.
               When he came home from the European theater, he attended 
             Columbia on the GI bill--just as so many other Americans 
             did.
               What distinguished him from many other returning 
             soldiers is that through hard work and perseverance he 
             founded his own company. Under his leadership, that firm 
             grew into the largest computing company of its kind in the 
             world.
               So working his way from humble beginnings to a 
             prosperous career as a chief executive in New Jersey's 
             private sector, he lived the American dream.
               But Frank Lautenberg's true calling was public service 
             and giving back to his community, our State, and our 
             Nation throughout his life.
               New Jersey lost a tireless advocate on June 3.
               For many years we worked together as New Jersey's 
             appropriations team--looking out for our State's needs on 
             Capitol Hill. I was proud to work with him on issues so 
             important to the citizens of our State--transportation, 
             homeland security, and open space. In fact, in his final 
             months, we worked in a bipartisan way to ensure that New 
             Jersey has the resources to recover from a historic storm.
               Yes, we owe much to this dedicated public servant. We 
             have lost a great fighter who lived a life from which we 
             all could learn.
               May the tributes and prayers of so many of his 
             colleagues here today be a source of strength to his 
             family.

               Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
             late Senator Frank Lautenberg, who spent his life serving 
             this Nation and the people of New Jersey as a member of 
             the military and a five-term Senator. With Senator 
             Lautenberg's passing, the Senate has lost its last veteran 
             of World War II.
               Senator Lautenberg served his country proudly during 
             World War II, earning distinction in the U.S. Army Signal 
             Corps. After being deployed overseas, he came back home 
             and founded Automatic Data Processing, a company that grew 
             to become a giant in the payroll industry.
               First elected in 1982, Senator Lautenberg was a champion 
             of the middle class and left the State of New Jersey 
             stronger for his years of service. Policies he championed, 
             including public smoking bans, raising the drinking age, 
             and lowering the DUI limit saved countless lives. Senator 
             Lautenberg was also a longtime advocate of Amtrak and 
             transportation infrastructure in New Jersey, helping to 
             grow the State economy.
               Mr. Speaker, I stand with the rest of the New Jersey 
             congressional delegation in remembering Senator Lautenberg 
             for his dedication and tireless work. His death has left a 
             void in the Congress, the State of New Jersey, and the 
             Nation. For Senator Lautenberg, service was not just a 
             buzzword--it was an ethos and a purpose. All of us 
             gathered in these hallowed Chambers should remember not 
             just the man, but his legacy and his example. We join the 
             people of New Jersey and the United States in remembrance 
             of Senator Frank Lautenberg, an extraordinary public 
             servant.

               Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and 
             accomplishments of Senator Frank Lautenberg. I have known 
             Senator Lautenberg for decades, and I have been honored to 
             call him a colleague and friend. My heart and thoughts go 
             out to his wife Bonnie, his children, and grandchildren.
               Senator Lautenberg always believed that the Congress 
             should be there for people in need and that there were a 
             lot of problems out there, but Congress needed to work 
             together on a bipartisan basis to solve those problems. In 
             this era of partisanship, it was always refreshing to have 
             Senator Lautenberg there to bridge gaps and get things 
             done.
               Over the years I had the pleasure of working with him on 
             a number of critical issues that helped people in New 
             Jersey and across the country. For example, when I first 
             came to Congress in 1988, Senator Lautenberg and I worked 
             together to close ocean dumping sites off the Jersey coast 
             so the water millions of people swim in would be cleaner.
               We also worked together on Superfund and brownfields 
             issues. The Senator always fought to ensure that 
             polluters, and not taxpayers, would foot the bill when it 
             came to cleaning up toxic waste sites in New Jersey. 
             Through his advocacy, numerous toxic sites in New Jersey 
             have been cleaned up and redeveloped, creating jobs and 
             cleaning the environment.
               I always admired Senator Lautenberg's commitment to 
             helping ``the little guy'' and the way he fought to make 
             sure all Americans were on an equal ground to work toward 
             the kind of success he achieved in his life. I 
             particularly respected his tireless efforts to improve the 
             safety and security of all Americans by working to end gun 
             violence. I was proud to stand with him in that effort and 
             supported his initiative to keep our communities safe.
               I enjoyed working with him to provide health care for 9/
             11 first responders. We both worked hard to pass the James 
             Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which 
             pays for the monitoring and treatment of health conditions 
             that resulted from the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks for 
             first responders and community residents.
               Most recently he worked tirelessly to advocate for 
             rebuilding our State after the devastation of Superstorm 
             Sandy. He fought hard to make sure New Jersey got the 
             disaster relief funding it deserved so that we could 
             rebuild and recover. He was able to accomplish all of 
             these things because of the hard work that he put into 
             everything he did.
               Like all New Jerseyans, I am grateful for Senator 
             Lautenberg's service to our State and our Nation. I will 
             miss him dearly and will do my best to continue working on 
             the issues that were so important to both of us.

               Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I thank my friends and 
             colleagues in the New Jersey delegation for organizing 
             this tribute to the late Senator Frank Lautenberg.
               This is a personal loss as well as a loss for New Jersey 
             and for this Nation. I don't think there has been, nor do 
             I think there will ever be, anybody quite like Frank 
             Lautenberg in the U.S. Senate.
               What stands out to so many about Frank is that he never 
             forgot his humble beginnings. He was the son of immigrants 
             who was born and raised among the silk mills of Paterson. 
             His father died while he was serving in the Second World 
             War--and ``serve'' is the right word. He saw service as 
             his duty, as his life--serving other people, never 
             forgetting the common person and the common good. The GI 
             bill sent him to Columbia University, and he always felt 
             grateful for that and felt a need to pay back.
               Much has been said in recent days about Frank's 
             successful business career. It certainly was a success. 
             The qualities that drove Frank to be a successful 
             businessman also made him an exemplary legislator. Frank 
             was dogged; he was persistent. His colleagues in the 
             Senate would sometimes laugh or smile about that--``Here 
             comes Frank again to try to twist our arms.'' Frank did 
             his homework; he knew what he was talking about, and he 
             just kept fighting for equality of opportunity, for 
             fairness, for safety, for ever-expanding access to the 
             American dream.
               Frank's legislative legacy will remain relevant for 
             generations to come. He fought tirelessly to keep trains 
             and buses safe, to promote public health, to safeguard 
             chemical plants, to keep cigarettes out of airplanes, and 
             so much more. But what stands out in my mind is what Frank 
             did to prevent drunk driving. As part of his 
             transportation work, Frank established limits on blood 
             alcohol levels and raised the drinking age. Today, you 
             could fill several football stadiums with people who are 
             alive only because of Frank Lautenberg--and not one of 
             them knows they are indebted to him for his legislation.
               Throughout his time in the Senate Frank was always 
             thinking about the ordinary person. He never forgot that 
             they were the people who had sent him to serve; he never 
             stopped fighting; and the people of New Jersey knew that. 
             They knew they had somebody in the Senate who was looking 
             out for them.
               Frank and I worked on a number of important issues 
             together. From strengthening and securing our rail system 
             to combating bullying with the Tyler Clementi bill, I 
             always relished the opportunity to work with such a 
             premier legislator as Frank was. I feel this loss very 
             personally.
               I again send my most heartfelt condolences to Bonnie and 
             to Frank's children and grandchildren. I hope they find 
             comfort in knowing that his ideas and his legacy will live 
             on through the many lives he saved and touched.
               
             
             

             The Honorable

Frank R. Lautenberg

                            January 23, 1924-June 3, 2013

                                United States Senator

                                     New Jersey


                       In Final Tribute from a Grateful Nation

                      The Lying in Repose of Senator Lautenberg

                          The Senate, United States Capitol

                                  Washington, D.C.

                                    June 6, 2013

             
             

                             Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
               
             
             

             January 23, 1924-June 3, 2013







                      ``The True Measure of
                     a Democracy is Its
                     Dispensation of Justice.''




                                          --Senator Frank R. Lautenberg




                     This quote is on the exterior plaque on the
                       Lautenberg Post Office and Court House
                                in Newark, New Jersey


                                       Program




                                 Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove                                             Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue, New York

                                 Rabbi Dan Cohen                                                   Rabbi of Sharey Tefilo-Israel, South Orange, New
                                                                                                    Jersey

                                 Senator Robert Menendez                                           Senator from the State of New Jersey

                                 Ellen Lautenberg                                                  .....................................................

                                 Nan Lautenberg Morgart                                            .....................................................

                                 Lisa Lautenberg Birer                                             .....................................................

                                 Josh Lautenberg                                                   .....................................................

                                 Grandchildren                                                     .....................................................

                                 Brian Stokes Mitchell,
                                 Tedd First, Musical Director                                      .....................................................

                                 Hillary Rodham Clinton                                            Former Secretary of State

                                 Danielle Englebardt                                               .....................................................

                                 Lara Englebardt Metz                                              .....................................................

                                 Vice President Joseph Biden                                       .....................................................

                                 Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg                                      .....................................................


               
             
             

                  In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a 
                                    contribution
               in memory of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, please donate
                              to one of the following:

                       Children's Environmental Health Center

                        American Friends of Hebrew University
                        Lautenberg Center of Tumor Immunology


                                Honorary Pallbearers




                    Senator Barbara Boxer                         Dr. Martin Goldman

                    Senator Maria Cantwell                        Mr. Stephen Greenberg

                    Senator Benjamin Cardin                       Mr. Douglas Hendel

                    Senator Dick Durbin                           Dr. James Holland

                    Senator Dianne Feinstein                      Mr. Arthur Imperature

                    Senator Al Franken                            Mr. Stuart Katzoff

                    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand                    Mr. Brad Krevoy

                    Senator Tom Harkin                            The Judlowe/Reisner Family

                    Senator Pat Leahy                             Mrs. Christina Lautenberg

                    Senator Carl Levin                            Mr. Josh Lautenberg

                    Senator Bob Menendez                          Mr. Corey Metz

                    Senator Barbara Mikulski                      Mr. Joe Morgart

                    Senator Patty Murray                          Dr. David Nochimson

                    Senator Harry Reid                            Dr. Frank Nochimson

                    Senator Chuck Schumer                         Mr. Ken Nochimson

                    Senator Richard Shelby                        Mr. Howard Rich

                    Senator Marco Rubio                           Dr. Phil Steig

                    Governor Jon Corzine                          Mr. Joseph Taub

                    Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley                   Mrs. Marilyn Taub

                    Mr. Doug Birer                                Mr. Edward Turen

                    Mr. Stanley Bogen                             Dr. Alex Weintrob

                    Mr. Norman Braman                             Mr. Michael Weisman

                    Mrs. Judy Glickman                            Mr. Andrew Zaro



                 A special thank you to all our family, friends and
              unbelievable Lautenberg staff, past and present, ADP and
                   Senate, for their dedication, support and love.
             Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove. Psalm 23, a psalm of David. 
             ``The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me 
             to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the 
             still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in 
             straight paths for his name's sake. Yea though I walk 
             through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no 
             evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they 
             comfort me. Thou prepare a table before me in the presence 
             of mine enemies. Thou has anointed my head with oil. My 
             cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow 
             me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house 
             of the Lord forever. Amen.''
               Early Monday morning, the soul of Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg passed into God's eternal embrace. A life 
             journey of 89 years. Son of New Jersey; World War II 
             veteran; businessman; public servant; statesman; loving 
             son; brother; husband; father; grandfather; and mensch; 
             through and through. Ending with a final breath sealed 
             with the kiss of the Divine.
               As a Nation, we acknowledge Vice President Biden, 
             Governor Christie, Secretary Ray LaHood, Secretary 
             Clinton, distinguished U.S. Senators, distinguished 
             Members of the House of Representatives, officials from 
             the great State of New Jersey, Consul General Ido Aharoni, 
             honored guests.
               As a Nation, as colleagues, as family and friends, we 
             gather in sacred space to mourn our loss, to give due 
             honor to Senator Lautenberg's noble deeds and high ideals 
             and most of all to offer comfort to the bereaved family in 
             their sorrow.
               Frank Lautenberg, Ephraim ben Shmuel v'Masha, son of Sam 
             and Mollie of blessed memory. Brother to Marian and her 
             Larry, both of whom we recall here today. Our deepest 
             condolences to the children: to Ellen and your Doug; to 
             Nan and your Joe; to Lisa and to your Douglas; to Josh and 
             your Christina; to Danielle and your Stuart; to Lara and 
             your Corey.
               To you Bonnie, our hearts, our prayers are with you, on 
             the passing of your beloved. The care, the compassion, 
             that you extended to Frank every step of the way, 
             especially these last few days, we commit to supporting 
             you now in your loss.
               Senator Lautenberg lived to see the greatest blessing, 
             the birth of his children's children, Aaron, Talia, 
             Alexander, Johnathan, Lauren, Sarah, Mollie, Madeline, 
             Hannah, Sam, Hudson, Avery, and Macy. We pray that each of 
             you shall find comfort in the blessing of your 
             grandfather's memory, and always feel the gentle caress of 
             his presence in your lives.
               A proud American and a proud Jew, Senator Lautenberg's 
             achievements can be traced to an abiding awareness of his 
             roots. The commandment to always remember one's origins. 
             To recall that you were once a stranger in a strange land. 
             His values, his agenda, his accomplishments deeply 
             personal, if not autobiographical in nature.
               A few examples. Having grown up in the most modest of 
             circumstances, a family so poor I'm told they couldn't 
             afford his bar mitzvah, Frank had to learn very quickly 
             how to take care of himself. He came out fighting and he 
             never stopped. Throughout his life in the private and the 
             public sector he understood the value of hard work. And 
             yet successful as he would become because of where he came 
             from, Frank would always be a man of the people and for 
             the people, never forgetting his humble start. Ever 
             present was the memory of his loving father Sam who died 
             too young, when Frank was but a teenager, a casualty of 
             the silk mills in which he labored. He lived with the 
             memory of his father running his fingers across the 
             machine filled with accumulated soot, the Senator's 
             lifelong commitment to workplace and chemical safety 
             embedded in the very conditions his father faced, and some 
             still face, each and every day.
               Alternatively, the Senator was well aware of the 
             blessing of the GI bill that provided him with the 
             opportunity to raise himself up following the war, an 
             awareness that would impel him to help others achieve the 
             American dream for which he was so grateful. So too, the 
             Senator would always be an advocate on behalf of women's 
             causes, not just because he was surrounded by the strong 
             women of his family throughout his life, though I'm sure 
             that was part of it, but because he forever recalled the 
             injustice of seeing his mother being laid off following 
             the war.
               Senator Lautenberg was not one to look back, certainly 
             not with regret, but he understood that an awareness of 
             one's past informs one's present and future priorities. 
             Whatever the cause may have been--the environment, cancer 
             research, the United Jewish Appeal, legislation 
             facilitating the emigration of Russian Jewry, his 
             commitments to Israel--one may understand the Senator's 
             lifetime of personal, legislative, and philanthropic 
             commitments as windows into his soul. No matter what one's 
             station in this world, life only has meaning insofar as it 
             is directed toward the betterment of those around us. 
             Senator Lautenberg understood it to be his mission, his 
             obligation, to leave this world for his grandchildren in 
             better condition than which it was received.
               But as much as his outward achievements, perhaps it was 
             the Senator's personal demeanor that speaks his story. In 
             every exchange we ever had, he more than exemplified 
             Kipling's poetic ideal of being able to walk with kings 
             while never losing the common touch. Whether it was a 
             schmooze after synagogue, sitting side by side at an 
             event, celebrating a family occasion or a Sabbath meal or 
             hearing of his grandchildren, I was always struck by how 
             totally human he was. That beneath the formality and the 
             titles, a profound humility, a genuine kindness, and a 
             terrific sense of humor--his jokes, funny even on the 
             second, third, or fourth telling--I will forever be 
             grateful for the constant kindness and encouragement that 
             he and you, Bonnie, and the whole family extended to me 
             personally and to this community.
               There is both a sting and a poetic comfort that Senator 
             Lautenberg should pass at this time of year, as Jews in 
             this synagogue and around the world should read of the 
             decree that Moses having led the Israelites out of Egypt 
             and through the wilderness would not enter the Promised 
             Land. None of us ever live to see the fullness of that for 
             which we toil. By definition it extends beyond the horizon 
             of our mortality. Yet it is in this realization that we 
             come to understand that the measure of a life is not found 
             in a win-loss column, some sort of cosmic balance sheet. 
             Rather the difference between success and failure is 
             whether we did the best given the hand we were dealt, 
             whether we helped solve the problems of our day, whether 
             we addressed the needs of the hour, and whether we 
             squeezed every moment for all its worth.
               As Theodore Roosevelt famously counseled, ``It's not the 
             critic who counts, not the man who points out how the 
             strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have 
             done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is 
             actually in the arena. Whose face is marred by dust and 
             sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly, who errs, who 
             comes short again and again. If he fails at least he fails 
             while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be 
             with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory 
             nor defeat.''
               Every day of his life Senator Lautenberg dared greatly. 
             He left it all out on the field. He gave of his passions 
             toward the betterment of this country and his common 
             humanity. He was the consummate man in the arena, never 
             amongst the souls too timid to fight. Be it his allies or 
             adversaries, all agree that Senator Lautenberg's life was 
             impelled by causes and ideals larger than him. Ever 
             grateful for the opportunities afforded to him. Ever 
             mindful of his obligations to those making the same 
             struggle.
               A final thought. As a young rabbi separated from the 
             Senator by multiple generations, in reflecting on some of 
             his more well-known legislative accomplishments--a legal 
             drinking age, a ban on smoking on commercial flights, 
             aviation safety, the establishment of national parks and 
             otherwise--I'm struck by the feeling and the question of 
             how it could have been possible to have thought or lived 
             otherwise. In other words, to realize that those matters 
             which were undoubtedly fierce debates in their time, 
             pioneering stances for which the Senator withstood 
             withering criticism, now in retrospect appear as 
             inevitable and obvious as they seem necessary. As such, 
             the untimely passing of Senator Lautenberg leaves us with 
             the weighty and inspiring question of what priorities sat 
             on his present and prescient agenda that will in the years 
             to come similarly be understood in retrospect as 
             inevitable, obvious, and necessary. It's a question that 
             fortunately need not languish interminably without action. 
             After all, today we commit ourselves not just to honoring 
             his memory, but as he would have done, leverage that 
             awareness toward shaping our future, to pick up the 
             charge, to lay the foundation for the next generation, and 
             in doing so, assure that his memory, the memory of Senator 
             Frank Lautenberg, Ephraim ben Shmuel v'Masha, is for a 
             blessing, amen.

             Rabbi Dan Cohen. The 15th Psalm begins with a question: 
             ``Adonai, our God, who may abide in your house who may 
             dwell upon your holy mountain. Those who are upright who 
             do justly, who speak the truth within their hearts, who do 
             not slander others or wrong them or bring shame upon them, 
             who scorned the lawless but honor those who revere God, 
             who give their word and no matter what they do not 
             retract. Who do not exploit others or take advantage. 
             Those who live in this way, they shall never be shaken.''
               Today we honor a man who truly lived in this way. When I 
             first came to Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, 
             New Jersey, 21 years ago I was thrilled to discover that 
             among the congregation's membership was one Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg. Having grown up in a household that defined 
             itself by its liberal democratic values, Senator 
             Lautenberg was a household name, an iconic figure. Someone 
             who earned the admiration of my parents and our family 
             friends. Not easy. Here was a man who like my father, was 
             the son of Jewish immigrants. A man who worked hard, 
             achieved success, and then used that success to do good in 
             the world, both through his philanthropy and his political 
             involvement. Senator Lautenberg never forgot those humble 
             beginnings, and those memories fueled his passion and 
             commitment to tikkun olam, to making a difference in the 
             lives of others. I was honored each Jewish New Year to 
             welcome the Senator to our bimah, our pulpit, to have him 
             lead the prayer for the State of Israel, and then together 
             with his New Jersey congregation to read the prayer for 
             our Nation's leaders. A privilege each and every year.
               A decade or so ago, I stopped being the rabbi who had 
             the privilege to serve the congregation to which Senator 
             Frank Lautenberg belonged, and simply became the rabbi who 
             was privileged to call Frank, friend. I treasured my 
             conversations with him. I was honored when he would call 
             and ask a question about some aspect of Jewish tradition, 
             or discuss some other subject that was on his mind. I 
             loved being able to ask for his input and insights. How 
             many congregational rabbis are able to turn to a sitting 
             U.S. Senator for input on their High Holiday sermons?
               Without a doubt, one of my proudest days as a rabbi, 
             actually in my life, was the day he invited me to open the 
             Senate session. What an honor it was to be standing on the 
             Senate floor next to my Senator, next to my friend.
               A few weeks ago, Frank called and said we needed to talk 
             about the inevitable. I told him I hoped the inevitable 
             would be a long way off. He laughed and said that he did 
             as well. Then he said he wanted to make sure he was 
             remembered not only for his love of family and for his 
             accomplishments, but also as someone who loved his 
             country, a true patriot, and someone who never forgot his 
             roots, someone who dedicated his life to helping those who 
             are most vulnerable in our society. He told me he wanted 
             to be remembered as a man from humble beginnings who did 
             good, and then used those opportunities provided to him to 
             do the same for others. I told him I was sure that all 
             those attributes and many more would be mentioned 
             frequently when the time came. I then joked about some of 
             the other things I might say about him. He laughed and 
             said, ``Stick to the script, Dan.'' In addition to 
             everything else, Frank Lautenberg had a sense of humor. He 
             was a great guy. Today I stand here as Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg's rabbi. As a proud native of New Jersey. As an 
             American. And as one of the many people who will miss a 
             dear friend, a cherished friend. May his memory be for a 
             blessing each and every day. Amen.

             Senator Robert Menendez. Over these last 2 days, I have 
             described Frank Lautenberg as one of the most tenacious 
             men I have ever known--and he was very tenacious--but in 
             the best sense of the word. It came from his deep and 
             abiding belief in always holding on, in always fighting 
             on--a tenacity forged in the crucible of a life that began 
             in humble beginnings in Paterson, New Jersey.
               Frank Lautenberg was a man for his time, one of the 
             Greatest Generation, the last in the Senate to have served 
             in World War II. His story was an American story, but--in 
             his heart and for his lifetime--he was a man from New 
             Jersey, a kid from Paterson.
               His father, Sam, worked in the silk mills. He sold coal, 
             he farmed, and he once ran a tavern. Frank lost his father 
             to cancer when he was 19, and learned the lesson of hard 
             work, having to take a job on nights and weekends until he 
             graduated from Nutley High School, when he joined the Army 
             and went to Europe. His tenacity was strengthened as he 
             served his country in World War II, made keen with a sharp 
             intellect and a wealth of knowledge he gained at Columbia 
             University through the GI bill.
               Anyone who knew Frank knows he was destined to make 
             something of himself and he did. He joined two of his 
             boyhood friends to found a very successful business, and 
             he did very well. But losing his father, working his way 
             through high school, going to war, starting a business, 
             and making a success of himself--well, that wasn't enough 
             for Frank Lautenberg. He wanted to give something back--he 
             wanted to serve the people of New Jersey.
               That's why he ran for office and it's why the people of 
             New Jersey kept electing him--five times. It was his 
             tenacity that led him not to hesitate in taking on 
             powerful interests that were juxtaposed to the people's 
             interest--but to always fight on for the people he 
             represented. The chemical industry didn't care for his 
             right-to-know law, but Frank was tenacious, doing what was 
             right for his constituents and for this Nation. The 
             tobacco industry didn't care for his no smoking on 
             airplanes. The NRA and its gun lobby didn't care for his 
             fight for gun control measures that he believed could save 
             lives.
               But Frank always did what he believed was right--always 
             was on the side of those who needed a voice, a hand, a 
             chance to build a better life, and it was his tenacity 
             that kept him going. Even while ill, he didn't hesitate to 
             come back to vote on gun control measures, or to move the 
             nomination of the new EPA administrator, which had been 
             locked up in partisan gridlock, because he knew in both 
             cases how important it was--and what it could mean in the 
             lives of the everyday working families he represented.
               When they commute to work on a PATH train or take Amtrak 
             to visit a relative, the people of New Jersey know Frank 
             Lautenberg made it possible. When working class New 
             Jerseyans go to the Paterson Great Falls Park--where the 
             blood, sweat, and tears of the men and women who powered 
             the industrial revolution flows through the raceways and 
             waterwheels along the Passaic--they remember Frank 
             Lautenberg--fighting to make Paterson Great Falls a 
             National Monument to every working class family in New 
             Jersey and across this Nation.
               To say so many positive things about someone at their 
             memorial, might be seen as the usual gilding of the lily. 
             In Frank's case it's simply the truth. I will remember his 
             life as a testament to what is possible and I take it as a 
             challenge--as should all of us--to continue the many 
             causes he championed. Those who loved, admired, or 
             respected him--and who take him to his rest today--will 
             hope to see that what he stood for, what he fought for, 
             will come to pass for all he served.
               As we remember his life and legacy today, I'm reminded 
             of the remarks of Mother Theresa upon the occasion of her 
             receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. She said, as she 
             was receiving the highest honor our Nation gives to a 
             civilian: ``It is not all the awards or recognitions that 
             matter in life, but rather how one has lived their life 
             that matters.'' In that respect, Frank Lautenberg lived an 
             extraordinary and exemplary life.
               Bonnie, I'm sure you know that he loved you dearly. Even 
             Lady Gaga couldn't hold a candle to you. He may have loved 
             her music, but he loved you more. He was always bragging 
             to me about what a beautiful and talented wife he had. He 
             was so proud of his children--so proud of the persons they 
             had grown to be. He talked about his grandchildren all the 
             time and our hearts go out to you and the entire family. I 
             know how much you will miss him.
               On Monday, I read a quote on the Senate floor from the 
             Old Testament--from Daniel, chapter 12--that is 
             appropriate again today. It says: ``And the wise shall 
             shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament ... And 
             those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars 
             forever.''
               Frank Lautenberg tenaciously stood for justice and his 
             memory shall be like a constellation showing us the way. 
             Thank you, Frank, for a life well lived and a job well 
             done. On behalf of a grateful State and Nation, thank you 
             for your faithful service. Farewell, my friend, until we 
             meet again.

             Ellen Lautenberg. There's no such thing as a perfect 
             parent. However, there is also no such thing as a parent 
             that does not have profound influence on their children.
               My father was great at some things and not so good at 
             others. He was not what I would call warm and fuzzy. In 
             fact in my younger years, I copied some of his more 
             negative habits, like smoking. Yes, he was a smoker at one 
             point, reformed obviously.
               However, gradually I began to subconsciously gravitate 
             toward some of his more positive influences. When I 
             graduated college a somewhat shy and unassuming English 
             major, he suggested that I take an entry level job at a 
             financial firm to learn more about finance. He of course 
             was in business at ADP at the time.
               After learning the ropes, I succeeded in moving up the 
             ladder and working at that firm for 10 years. During that 
             time, my Dad had run for the U.S. Senate and won his first 
             term, a huge change in the direction of his life and mine.
               Both he and my mom had always been very philanthropic 
             and community minded. But a few years after he moved to 
             the Senate, I found myself leaving finance and entering 
             law school, with the intent of pursuing a career in public 
             interest. Although I never really practiced as a lawyer, 
             the education exposed me to a new realm of interests.
               After getting married and having two children, I spent 
             time as a volunteer in my community and got involved with 
             many worthwhile organizations. A few years ago I received 
             a call from an old friend asking if I could get my dad to 
             speak at a fundraising event for the Children's 
             Environmental Health Center. They were excited about his 
             pending legislation called the Safe Chemicals Act. He 
             could not attend and I spoke on his behalf, and have been 
             involved with them ever since. Last year he did attend, to 
             accept their first ever Champion for Children Award.
               As I look back, I can see how he shaped my path, by 
             demonstrating that there are always new opportunities to 
             learn and grow, that you must seize those opportunities 
             and make the most of them. That one can have an impact on 
             their world.
               But this was a small part of his essence. His boundless 
             energy left us all wanting more rest. His speaking Italian 
             to waiters in a restaurant; his zest for nature; and 
             always, his sense of humor, which carried all of us, and 
             him, through some tough times. It never ceased even in his 
             last days. If he were here, he would tell the joke about 
             the grandmother being on the roof. Some of you might know 
             that joke. I would tell it, but I wouldn't do it justice.
               Finally, he loved his work in the Senate so much that 
             even days ago, on a day when he was feeling pretty good, 
             he would say, ``I never should have made that retirement 
             speech.'' He really did.
               I hope that I have that kind of optimism and energy when 
             I am 89. Thank you Dad for everything you did for us. I 
             love you, and will always feel your presence.

             Nan Lautenberg Morgart. Good morning everyone. I am 
             Frank's second daughter, Nan, or more fondly named by my 
             father as Nanny or Banana. I am proud to say that my 
             father and I have much in common. We share a zest for 
             life, the love of competition, an energy level that never 
             quits, and of course an incredible stubbornness, and the 
             attitude that we are always right, and no one else is.
               One might say our relationship was loving, yet volatile. 
             My father's zest for life started when he learned to ski, 
             and he instilled that love in all of his children. We 
             would travel to Stratton, Vermont, every weekend. There 
             was one particular weekend that my father decided to bring 
             our dog and tie our luggage to the top of the car. About 2 
             hours into the trip we heard a loud crash. My father 
             pulled to the side of the road and we all got out of the 
             car to see that the suitcases had ripped off the top of 
             the roof of the car, and our clothes were strewn along the 
             highway. After an hour of picking up our stuff we just got 
             back in the car and continued on our trip. Nothing would 
             stop my dad from seeing his kids ski. He was so proud.
               In addition to being a good athlete, he was extremely 
             smart and knowledgeable about all business matters, and 
             always tried to prove that he knew everything about 
             everything. I was a marketing rep for IBM during my 
             father's brief retirement from the Senate. He was so bored 
             that he called me every day to ask me what I sold that 
             day. I not only had a quota from IBM, but an arbitrary 
             quota from my dad. He pretended he knew all about every 
             machine that we sold. He had claimed that he worked long 
             and hard on an IBM 3000 at ADP. I always listened but I 
             never had the heart to tell him that machine never 
             existed. I love your spirit, Dad.
               There are so many wonderful stories about my father and 
             our travels together, as my sister had just spoken about. 
             My father had a confidence second to none. He had a 
             kindness, sincerity, and believability. As we traveled 
             through Europe meeting dignitaries, we would stop at 
             restaurants where my father claimed he spoke seven 
             languages fluently. When it came time to order, he would 
             use one word from each language to form a sentence. And he 
             did it with such conviction that no one questioned its 
             validity. That was my dad, so confident and determined, he 
             owned the room.
               No matter where he was he made everyone feel important, 
             from the waiter to Beverly, who took such good care of 
             him. And to dignitaries like Golda Meir and Moshe Dayan, 
             he was very important to them in keeping Israel strong.
               As I mentioned before, we had a loving, but volatile 
             relationship. You might equate it to a Democrat and a 
             Republican. We would argue and debate, dig in our heels, 
             and never bend to the other's opinions. We were both very 
             stubborn and we each wanted to be right. To this day, I 
             don't believe we ever heard what the other one was saying. 
             But nonetheless, it was the thing that bonded us together. 
             In the end, the argument always ended with ``I love you.''
               In all the experiences I shared with my dad, I didn't 
             realize until now that every moment with him was a 
             teaching moment. He taught me so much about life and how 
             not just to be in the present, but to live it to the 
             fullest on your own terms. Through the toughest times with 
             his health, he still made us laugh so we wouldn't cry 
             because during our childhood, crying and quitting was not 
             acceptable.
               I end this tribute to my dad with a song he sang every 
             day. It comes from the movie ``Fiddler on the Roof.'' Its 
             meaning, so fitting now, ``Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, 
             sunset. Swiftly fly the years, one season following 
             another laden with happiness and tears.''
               Goodbye Dad, my friend and adversary, I love you, rest 
             in peace, and know that your legacy lives on in your 13 
             grandchildren.

             Lisa Lautenberg Birer. I am going to try and talk, I'm not 
             going to get very far I don't think. So, my daughter 
             Mollie is going to read my feelings for me. I will tell 
             you, my name is Lisa, I was the third daughter. I was the 
             little one who tended to ask all the questions, which 
             always my father thought was a question of his authority. 
             So today, he has taken my voice away.
               Hi, I am Lisa, the third daughter, and usually referred 
             to by my father as Li-Li. Because I was a girl and not the 
             boy he hoped for I had to become a sports fanatic because 
             he wasn't going to sit still long enough to be a member of 
             my tea party. Instead it was skiing and sailing, Rangers 
             and Giants. He was longing for a change from hanging out 
             with all those women. He was raised by his mother Mollie 
             and her four sisters: Gert, Ceil, Ruth, Sophie, and his 
             sister Marian. All very influential women in his life who 
             showed him tough love. They had a lot of advice for Frank 
             from Paterson, and they didn't waste any time.
               With a strong Jewish foundation he became a member of 
             the Army, started ADP with his friends Henry and Joe Taub, 
             chairman of UJA and then jumped into the Senate with both 
             feet. While completing these accomplishments he didn't 
             have much family time but that made the get-togethers 
             special. So you can imagine being surrounded by women, he 
             had a great respect for them and all minorities except for 
             one minority, known as the son-in-laws. They were worse 
             than any special interest group. I remember clearly as my 
             father was about to walk me down the aisle he leaned 
             toward my veil and whispered, ``It's not too late you can 
             still change your mind.'' He never forgave my husband for 
             taking me away from the great State of New Jersey. For 
             your information--my siblings moved away too. He had 
             enough love for New Jersey all on his own. He was proud 
             that ADP began in New Jersey and that he represented a 
             place that he cared for so deeply. So I conclude with some 
             statistics:

200 pieces of ``Lautenberg for Senate'' memorabilia in my closet

3,000 pieces of his opponent's memorabilia that I took down during 
campaigns and buried in my back yard

6 trips to Israel with my dad to learn about our Jewish heritage

300 new friends I lost during my freshman year at college when Dad raised 
the drinking age

20 phones he purchased because he didn't like how the previous one worked

100 times he butt-dialed me

30 times he sang into my answering machine how much he hated answering 
machines

6 hours he would make us ski without a break

20 candy bars in his pocket just in case we couldn't make it

1,000 feet he fell down a ski slope and then sat up with broken glasses and 
collar bone and refused to wait for the ski patrol

4 feet of water we were standing in as he told us to stay calm, that the 
sailboat would right itself

3,000 times he bragged about my college skiing accomplishments long after I 
graduated

100 not so nice names his opponents called him; 1 that stuck: ``Swamp 
Dog''--somehow he turned that into a compliment when he won the election

4,000 times he reminded us that he was 1 of 100 Senators and in detail what 
he achieved and that he had the greatest staff and friends and colleagues 
he could ever imagine, doing a job that he cherished

               My dad accomplished everything he wanted to in 89 years 
             and he brought me and my family along for the journey and 
             for that I am so grateful. Dad, I will love you and miss 
             you always.
               Li-Li.

             Josh Lautenberg. I'm Josh Lautenberg, the son he was 
             waiting for. Then after so many years I waited for him 
             forever and everything we went to it would just take 
             forever. I realize very clearly that if he hadn't had me 
             on the fourth try, my mother Lois and he would have had 12 
             or 15 children. My son Sam is named after my grandfather. 
             I never knew my father's father. It's not fair, Lisa 
             didn't tell me she was doing a ventriloquist act, and if I 
             had known I would have brought my juggling, my chainsaws 
             to entertain everybody, so that was kind of a surprise.
               It's really true what Ellen said. Just 10 days ago my 
             father was saying, ``You know, I really regret retirement, 
             I think I'm going to go out and tell them that I take the 
             whole thing back, it was just a mistake.'' He was very 
             serious about it. He meant it. Of course I wasn't of the 
             group of people who sort of always said, ``You know Frank, 
             you should retire, you're getting older, you should just 
             enjoy your life.'' I was always the one who said ``Go for 
             it.'' Ten days ago I said, ``Ok! I'll be there for the 
             rescinding of your retirement speech any time.''
               There's really a lot of important people here, it's a 
             real privilege to see you all. I need to point out a group 
             of extremely important people that were just as important 
             to my father as his own family and that's my father's 
             staff, taking up the entire side of the sanctuary. Those 
             were, are, and will continue to be his family as well. I 
             worry about you guys. I worry about where you're going to 
             go next. You're the most dedicated people in his life, and 
             I want you to be okay, and I want you to have somewhere to 
             go where you can feel as satisfied and thrilled and 
             excited about the work you do and the future as you did 
             working with, not for, my father. He relied on every 
             single one of you, and most of all he loved you because 
             you had his back, and you know he always had yours. So 
             thank you, for everything you've done. Thank you for 
             making him the man he is and was and for helping the 
             people of New Jersey and this region live better, 
             healthier, happier, and more successful lives. Thanks to 
             you all.
               If my father was here he would really love this party. 
             He'd say, ``Wow look at all these people. You couldn't get 
             the Israeli Prime Minister or the Pope?'' But that's okay.
               Frank Lautenberg was obviously a very important man as 
             can be clearly witnessed here today. He was of course a 
             great Senator, one of the finest to ever serve in my and 
             many other people's opinions. He championed causes that 
             many others were afraid to approach. We've heard this 
             today.
               My dad was a fighter as everyone here could attest to.
               He never backed down from a battle especially when it 
             was in the best interests of the little guy, the citizen 
             seeking to realize the American dream the way he had his 
             whole life. He defended those who could not defend 
             themselves. He was incredibly progressive for someone of 
             his generation. He expected everyone to pay their fair 
             share, including himself.
               I recall a story he told me about sitting at a table 
             with over a dozen Senators and overhearing one of them say 
             that none of their sons, of all the Senators in the room, 
             would go to the gulf war if there was a draft, because 
             they were the sons of U.S. Senators. He stood up and 
             protested--saying that not only would his son Josh go to 
             war if called, but so would the rest of their sons. None 
             of us were more privileged than anyone else, and we would 
             go to war if we needed to.
               At another time, when he was told he could not display 
             the photos and names of the kids killed in Iraq, he and 
             his staff made their own memorial outside his office doors 
             because it couldn't be in the Rotunda. No one would 
             prevent him from honoring these fallen heroes.
               No one. He was going to do that because he respected 
             them so much.
               I recall one appearance he had on network television 
             where the interviewer mentioned to my father that he had 
             made quite a few enemies in the Senate. He responded 
             coyly, as he always did with a smile, that if he wanted to 
             go somewhere to make friends he would have joined a 
             country club.
               In truth, he enjoyed having enemies. I really think he 
             did. As my sister Nan said, he really loved the fight, he 
             liked to poke a little bit. He enjoyed being the loudest 
             in the room, going against the grain, fighting the good 
             fight. After all, he was the scrappy kid from Paterson. He 
             made a point to never be beholden to anyone other than the 
             people of New Jersey and the Nation. He would never be 
             owned by lobbyists; he would never give in to special 
             interests.
               And no one can say that he didn't enjoy the title of his 
             job.
               One time years ago he asked me to call for a dinner 
             reservation. The maitre d' told me the restaurant was 
             full. So I had to say, ``Hey Dad, they don't have any 
             seats.''
               Upon reporting the news to my father, he said, ``Call 
             back and tell them it's for Senator Lautenberg.'' I did as 
             he asked, and the maitre d' replied with ``I don't care if 
             it's the Pope, I don't have any seats!'' I put the phone 
             down, and my dad asked, ``What did they say?'' I said, 
             ``They're really busy tonight. Apparently the Pope is 
             there and he's taking up a huge table.''
               During campaigns he loved parades and dancing at Cuban-
             American street festivals, but hated fundraising. He would 
             jump out of the car and run into gatherings of local 
             Democrats in small towns with his sleeves rolled up. And 
             to union meetings and breakfasts, but say no thanks, no 
             way to meetings with power brokers. My dad didn't enter 
             politics to be famous. He entered politics to give people 
             a voice in Washington. Little of what he did was partisan. 
             In fact, most of his work was to protect everyone 
             regardless of political affiliation. He was just in there 
             to help everyone, to look out for every single person. He 
             was a hero to many, especially to me.
               But beyond the corner office in the Hart Building and 
             sitting at Harry Truman's desk in the Senate Chambers, he 
             had the most important job anyone could ever have, much 
             more important than being a U.S. Senator.
               He was a father. He was my dad.
               My dad taught me to ski and sail and to love nature. He 
             always talked about the sea and encouraged me to look 
             outside and see the birds, to breathe the clean air, 
             thanks to him. He taught me the importance of being 
             curious and always asking questions, something I have 
             learned to teach my own kids. He brought me to Colorado 
             because he loved it so much. That's the place I now live 
             with my wife and children. Sorry Dad, I know you wanted me 
             in New Jersey, but you brought me there. Thank you.
               He had the best sense of humor. He was goofy and 
             jubilant and a real smart aleck.
               When we were kids he would sing in a German accent while 
             we skied. He would sing, ``You've got to bend your knees 
             when you ski through the trees, and you have to take a 
             pee. Zis is ze skiing song.''
               It always involved runny noses, and having to go to the 
             bathroom, and all these wonderful things, but in a German 
             accent, or Austrian, or something else.
               My father, his staff will tell you, always moved at 100 
             miles per hour. It took me years to walk beside him after 
             miles of him saying ``C'mon Josh. Keep up. Walk next to 
             me. I don't like you behind me.'' I couldn't. I was like 
             the little terrier running behind the greyhound. Stories 
             from his staff tell of him skipping the Senate train and 
             sprinting from the Hart Senate Office Building to the 
             Capitol while aides half his age dropped papers on the 
             floor trying to keep up with him, frantically. He ran 
             every set of stairs, he always answered the phone ``Heyyyy 
             Josh!! Heyyyy Ellen!! Heyyyy Lisa!! Heyyyy Nan!! Heyyyy 
             Bonnie!! Heyyyy Lara!! Heyyyy Danielle!!,'' even in his 
             last days. Because he wanted us to know that he was fine. 
             ``I've got this. I'm good.''
               He thrived on being a pest at times. He was the worst 
             backseat driver in the history of backseat drivers. You 
             may not know this but right next to the train station, 
             where we're going later, bearing his name is the Frank 
             Lautenberg Personal Driver Rehabilitation Center. It 
             wasn't funded by taxpayer dollars. The actual drivers paid 
             for it themselves to have some place to go to gain their 
             sanity back. I think he went through more drivers than 
             coffee. Hey, I was one of his drivers for awhile. It was 
             not fun. ``Take a right, take a left.'' ``Why can't we 
             just go straight?'' ``Ah, because it's more fun to go this 
             way.''
               He was the luckiest man in the world. Whenever he came 
             to Vail, it snowed. His flights were always on time, and 
             the sun came out when he arrived at the beach after it had 
             been raining for hours.
               He taught my sisters and me such important lessons on 
             life. He reminded us constantly to be humble and to 
             respect others regardless of lifestyle, color, or 
             religion. He was so progressive for a man of 89 years old. 
             He was so proud of his family, his ancestry, his heritage, 
             his mother, his father, his aunts, his sisters.
               Let me tell you, it wasn't easy being the son of Frank 
             Lautenberg, even before he became a Senator. He was very 
             tough on us kids. But in the long run his toughness made 
             me work harder to be the best at whatever I was doing.
               As a kid I had the most amazing adventures with my dad.
               We walked the oil-soaked beaches after the Valdez spill 
             in Alaska and then we went fly fishing for king salmon. We 
             went to Africa on safari. We sailed from Maine and New 
             York to Martha's Vineyard, which is where we almost sank. 
             Of course he always thought he knew more about something 
             than he did. Just ask the dock repairmen at all the ports 
             we pulled into. He'd order food at restaurants in Italian, 
             speak German to Germans, attempt Russian with taxi 
             drivers, but all the while not really knowing those 
             languages very well. But the waiters, and taxi drivers, 
             and the people he met, they all appreciated it because it 
             was so sincere and so real. That was my father.
               He was my dad, through and through. Many times I notice 
             that I have his mannerisms, I'm sure some of you notice it 
             in the way I'm speaking now. I have his humor, his facial 
             expressions. I often catch myself saying something my dad 
             would say, or crossing my legs the same way he would, 
             making a joke he would make. I laugh sometimes at the 
             things I say to people because it's exactly what my father 
             would say. I am who I am today because of my dad. He is 
             and always will be a part of me. It's genetic.
               I cannot express in words how much I will miss my dad. 
             When I heard from my sister early in the morning that he 
             was gone, I told my wife Christina that I didn't know 
             where to go from here. I felt really lost, without 
             direction. My dad was always the compass in our family. 
             The leader, he always knew the way, even if it was the 
             longest way. At this moment I am still not sure how to 
             deal with him leaving us. I'm upset about losing my 
             father, but I'm just as upset about the people at Amtrak. 
             He was their best friend. I worry about the staff, I worry 
             about family, I worry about friends, and all the people in 
             this room, and where do we go. But if I were to ask him 
             his advice, if I could talk to him right now about what to 
             do from here, he would simply say to move forward without 
             hesitation, run the stairs, walk fast, and grab a hot dog 
             on the way.
               I love you Dad, and I'll miss you.

             Alex Morgart. Hello, everyone. I would like to thank you 
             all for being here. I know my grandfather touched many 
             people's lives, and it makes me so happy to see so many 
             people here that really meant a lot to him. Since my 
             grandfather's passing, the news, social media, and 
             everything in between has reported on his accomplishments 
             and defeats that are significant to all his friends and 
             colleagues. We as a family feel that there is so much more 
             to our grandfather than just the legislation that he has 
             gotten passed.
               At one point in my life, I was extremely passionate 
             about joining the armed services, just as my grandfather 
             had served in World War II. He wanted me to pursue a path 
             in life that was a little more safe, was the way he put 
             it. He would always tell me the same story over and over. 
             The story began with him climbing up a pole, changing some 
             wires for the Signal Corps, and 100 yards away a bomb 
             would go off, and it would shake the pole. Then the next 
             time he told it, the bomb got 50 yards closer, and by the 
             end of the story, 6 months later, he said the bomb went 
             off right below his feet, shook the pole, he held on by 
             one hand and almost got electrocuted. I realized that my 
             grandfather was just a truly amazing man. He would always 
             have a story for everything to show which path you should 
             try to take and which path you should actually take. With 
             all his adventures, he made me realize the dangers 
             associated with being a member of the Armed Forces. I have 
             so much appreciation for all those that put their lives at 
             risk, and it grew dramatically every time he told the 
             story, and I want to thank all of those who have served. 
             Now I'm going to give it over to my brother.

             Johnathan Morgart. Fortunately for me, I had the chance to 
             see my grandfather recently while he was restrained to his 
             wheelchair. In the couple of minutes of seeing him, I 
             could tell that he wasn't pleased with not being able to 
             walk and move under his own power. As a way to ease the 
             pain, I suggested that maybe I could push him for a bit. 
             His face brightened up immediately for a chance to go a 
             little faster in his chair, and after enough fighting with 
             his personal assistant, he got his wish. When taking hold 
             of the handles, I told him jokingly to get ready for when 
             I started sprinting. Although I was never able to really 
             run with him, the pure emotions I felt that day when he 
             was genuinely happy and trusting me to hold him were 
             surreal. At that point I realized that no matter how tough 
             and stubborn of a man he was, there was always a place in 
             his heart for not only me, but for all of us grandkids. 
             There wasn't a more passionate and loving man that I've 
             known. Even though he could sometimes be tough on us, he 
             cherished us all with the entirety of his heart. I truly 
             believed my grandfather would live to be at least 250 
             years old. Pushing himself every waking day. His fighting 
             spirit and unwavering toughness led me to think that there 
             wasn't a possible way he would bow down to anyone or 
             anything. Unfortunately, the sad truth is no one is 
             invincible, not even my grandfather. But even he had to be 
             proud of the way he left, kicking and punching all the way 
             to the very end. I love him and everything he stands for. 
             Quietly expecting perfection without saying it. It's a 
             constant reminder that we can always be better. It will 
             stick with me for my entire life, and hopefully I can 
             instill it in others. There will never be another man like 
             him, and that's why he's my Papa. I love you, and I'm 
             always thinking about you. You are missed.

             Alex Morgart. I've come to realize that every moment I 
             spent with my grandfather was a lesson to make me a better 
             person. I will live my life by the virtues that he 
             instilled in me, and I will hope that one day I can pass 
             them on. Papa, I will always love you and keep you in my 
             heart and mind. Whenever I need guidance I know you're 
             there for me.

             Mollie Birer. Hello, I am Mollie Birer, the oldest 
             granddaughter of Frank Lautenberg. My grandfather is the 
             greatest man I've ever met, and although he's no longer 
             with us the things he's done, not only for my family, his 
             State, our country, and even places as far as Israel, will 
             continue to affect each and every one of us every single 
             day. Next year, I will be attending George Washington 
             University, which is approximately three blocks from his 
             apartment. One of the major pluses of attending this 
             university was that my grandfather would be very close by. 
             I knew he would be there whenever I needed someone or ran 
             out of money on my food card. Every day when I walk around 
             Washington, DC, the city in which my Papa was such a large 
             part of, I will think of him and all the wonderful things 
             he has done. I will miss him every day and he will forever 
             be in my heart and memory. I hope that my contributions to 
             this world will be even a fraction of what my grandfather 
             has accomplished. I love you Papa, rest in peace.

             Aaron Hendel. Hi, my name is Aaron Hendel, the third 
             eldest grandchild of the late Senator Lautenberg, or as I 
             prefer to call him, my Papa Frank. As sad as I am that 
             Papa is no longer with us, like those who spoke before me, 
             Rabbi Cosgrove, Rabbi Cohen, Senator Menendez, my mother, 
             aunts, uncle, and cousins, I'd rather take an opportunity 
             to talk a little bit about what made Papa so great in my 
             eyes. After all, as several friends and family have put it 
             in preparation for the ceremony today, today should be a 
             day to celebrate Papa's incredible life, and not just 
             mourn his passing. Papa could, and did, befriend anyone 
             and everyone, no matter how long it took. He didn't care 
             who he was talking to. He made all of his acquaintances 
             feel special. He always had time to be courteous, was 
             intrigued by all the people he ever came in contact with, 
             and often spent hours, if not days, telling me about all 
             these people.
               This brings me to a story that occurred around 5 years 
             ago, at the locally adored Pals Diner in West Orange, New 
             Jersey. Papa took our entire family to lunch at Pals one 
             afternoon, and after we had finished eating, we were 
             hanging out and chatting on the lower level of the 
             restaurant. Before we headed off, Papa decided to use the 
             bathroom. Just after he entered the bathroom, a man who 
             was not with us and did not know any of us walked in from 
             outside and then into that same bathroom. As the door to 
             the bathroom closed, we heard a very loud shriek of 
             delight from this man, who just so happened to stumble 
             into the same bathroom as his Senator, and could not 
             believe his good fortune in meeting him. But Papa did not 
             simply say hello and go on with his day. On the contrary, 
             Papa did not emerge from the bathroom for close to 10 
             minutes.
               During that span of time, my family and I heard 
             continuous laughter from our position outside the 
             bathroom, and all the while we were wondering what could 
             these two men who have never met each other in their lives 
             possibly be talking about and laughing about in a diner 
             bathroom. Finally, the man exited the bathroom with a 
             full-fledged grin on his face. It was clear that Papa not 
             only made him happy in that moment, but that he made this 
             man's day. This man seemed surprised that a busy 
             politician such as Papa took the time to connect with a 
             total stranger such as himself. But had he met Papa before 
             that day, it would just have been a regular moment. This 
             story acts as a perfect microcosm to who Papa was and the 
             lasting impression he has left on me and all of you before 
             me. He always had time to make an impact on someone's 
             life. If he didn't have time, he made time. That, I think, 
             is the biggest reason he decided to enter politics in the 
             first place. He wanted to make an impact in the biggest 
             way possible, and he did not accept accomplishing anything 
             less than that. It is because of his love and caring for 
             others that Papa was able to make so many friends over the 
             years and achieve so much, and above all other reasons, I 
             think that is why you are all here to celebrate Papa's 
             life with me today. Because he always took the time to do 
             whatever he could to improve a life, whether it was mine, 
             yours, or a total stranger's who he'd bumped into in a 
             restroom one day. So with that, I would like to thank you 
             all for coming here today. Papa would be so excited to see 
             so many friends and family members together in the same 
             place as my Uncle Josh alluded to before. It would mean so 
             much to him, just as it means so much to my family and me. 
             Thank you.

             Maddie Birer. Hi, I'm Maddie Birer. I can say that my 
             grandfather is probably the most dedicated, loyal, and 
             hard-working person I've ever met. He fought to make the 
             world a better place environmentally, medically, 
             politically, and in many more ways. Back when I was around 
             5 years old, Papa took all of us to Sterling Forest, and 
             we all planted trees. He taught us that each one of us 
             doing something little, like planting trees, can have a 
             long effect on the world. He always taught us things that 
             pertained to everyday life like speaking up, working hard, 
             and fighting for what we believe in. Papa was very 
             supportive of funding for cancer and type I diabetes 
             research hoping to find cures. People all over the world 
             struggle on a day-to-day basis with these diseases and to 
             have someone like my grandfather dedicate his time and 
             money to a cure, really helped people have hope. My 
             grandfather touched the hearts of many people, mine being 
             one of them. One day I hope to help people just like he 
             did and make a difference in this world. Love you, Papa, 
             rest in peace.

             Talia Hendel. Hello, I'm Talia, his sixth grandchild. Two 
             days ago, one of the most important people in my life 
             passed away. He was the greatest man, grandfather, and 
             Senator, creating a huge impact on not just my life, but 
             also the fortunate people of New Jersey and the rest of 
             the country. He taught me so many important things that 
             helped shape the person that I've become and will become 
             in the future, including the importance of hard work, 
             dedication, how to fight for a cause that I truly believe 
             in, and so much more. He taught me how to be a leader by 
             watching him make speeches and vote to make the State of 
             New Jersey and the entire country a better place.
               He accomplished more in his lifetime than I could ever 
             hope to accomplish, and in everything he did, he made 
             someone's life a little bit happier and a little bit 
             better. I will always try to achieve my goals, work my 
             hardest, and do my best for him. I'll always remember his 
             incredible sense of humor and how he always began our 
             conversations with a joke or just by goofing around. He 
             always put a smile on my face the second I saw him or 
             heard his voice on the phone.
               The Senate was such a big and important part of his life 
             and it became an exciting and special part of mine. He 
             always made sure that he included time with his family 
             throughout his career whether it was campaigning together 
             or just sitting in his office in the Capitol.
               There's a newspaper picture, very special to me, which 
             hangs in my room. It is of him holding me while awaiting 
             election returns in 2002 when I was 5. Whenever I look at 
             that picture, I think of all the fun and special times 
             that I spent with him doing many things that 5-year-olds 
             don't usually get to do. I remember the lively and bright 
             glimmer in his eyes whenever I accompanied him to 
             something work related. He truly loved nothing more than 
             working to help people, and I loved watching him be so 
             happy.
               I was also fortunate to know the more personal side of 
             him. I loved his visits to my house where I often showed 
             him my latest school accomplishments and talked about my 
             recent sports. From eating bagels on a Sunday morning, to 
             walking through the Capitol, every moment I spent with him 
             was special, and I'm so grateful to have those memories. 
             Although I won't be able to make any more, I will cherish 
             the memories I made with him forever.
               No one could come close to deserving the amount of 
             respect that he deserves, and that I have and will always 
             have for him. Papa, thank you for always making time to 
             spend with our family and always putting a smile on my 
             face. I love you, and will remember everything you've done 
             and the impact you've made on me forever. Thank you. I 
             couldn't have asked for a better man to call my 
             grandfather, and I'm so proud to be called your 
             granddaughter. I love you, Papa.

             Lauren Morgart. Hi, my name is Lauren Morgart. I am the 
             fourth oldest granddaughter. Thank you all for being here 
             on this special day for our family. On Wednesday, June 3, 
             at 4:02 a.m., our grandfather sadly passed away. I never 
             had the chance to say goodbye to him. He has done so much 
             for our country, and I can't help but thank him enough. It 
             means so much to us that you could make the time to come 
             and share the love with us. Papa was a very special man in 
             my life. He made the people of New Jersey very proud. I 
             love you very much. Rest in peace.

             Hannah Lautenberg. I'm Hannah Lautenberg. I am the fifth 
             oldest granddaughter. He taught us so many important 
             lessons that we will never forget. He taught us how to 
             fight strong and hard and the importance of hard work. One 
             of the many lessons that he taught us that we will always 
             remember is how to be a leader. We have learned this by 
             watching him on live TV and watching him make speeches in 
             front of thousands of people. We love you very much Papa, 
             rest in peace.

             Sarah Morgart. Hi my name is Sarah Morgart. I am Papa 
             Frank's 9-year-old granddaughter. I wanted to make a 
             speech for my Papa because he is my biggest hero. He was 
             smart, funny, and I loved him dearly. While he was busy 
             working for the people of New Jersey, he always made time 
             to see me, his grandkid. My favorite memory of him is when 
             he would sit me on his lap, and we would hug each other so 
             tight while he made up silly songs about me. They always 
             made me laugh. He always loved hearing about all sports 
             and activities I do. I would always cheer him on. Now, 
             Papa, I would like to cheer you on. Be brave and proud of 
             all you have accomplished in your lifetime, and know that 
             you have taught me that by making other people happy, I 
             can do great things too. Love you, Papa, and always will.

             [Musical interlude. Brian Stokes Mitchell]

             Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. As I was 
             getting up from the pew and moving into the aisle, the 
             Vice President said, ``Good luck, following that.'' 
             Actually that had crossed my mind as I was listening to 
             Brian. Frank would have loved that. I could see the casket 
             vibrating.
               Like so many of my colleagues from the Senate who are 
             here, I had the great privilege of serving with Frank, and 
             I found myself often sitting with him in the back row. 
             Frank came back to the Senate, as you know, after retiring 
             the first time, and missing the work and the advocacy and 
             just the opportunity to speak his mind and do things for 
             his constituents. When you first come to the Senate, 
             you're assigned a seat, and it's usually in the back. I 
             would often be sitting with Frank when we had what are 
             affectionately called votaramas. That's where you vote 
             constantly for many hours. You cast the vote, you go back, 
             sit down, mill around, talk, and Frank always had 
             something to say. It was usually a running commentary 
             about what we were doing and what we were not doing. All 
             of us got very used to hearing those jokes, which have 
             been referred to, but you'd sit with Frank and you just 
             couldn't help but have a smile on your face at least one 
             time during the conversation, and as Frank would say, 
             ``It's not where you sit that counts, it's where you 
             stand.'' There was never any doubt where he stood.
               He did stand with those families who keep their children 
             safe from toxic chemicals, from smoking, from drunk 
             driving. He stood with the victims of gun violence and 
             HIV/AIDS. He stood with veterans trying to follow in his 
             footsteps and go from service to school to success in 
             civilian life. He stood proudly with the working people of 
             New Jersey trying to provide for their families, to build 
             businesses like Frank and his two friends had--to pursue 
             the American dream. He stood with the riders of Amtrak, 
             and most of all, he stood as we have seen so beautifully 
             today, with his beloved family.
               He would talk about you all the time. He would invoke 
             you from the Senate floor, especially the grandchildren, 
             explaining why he fought so hard for what he believed in. 
             It was always for you. And for all children and the 
             children yet to come.
               Frank was also a steadfast champion of women's rights 
             and opportunities. I have heard now perhaps why he had to 
             be. But I have to tell you, I was talking with some of my 
             friends, who are still serving so incredibly well in the 
             Senate today. We did consider him kind of an honorary 
             member of the Women's Senators Club. Barbara Mikulski, the 
             longest serving woman in the Senate, has a phrase for 
             those of our male colleagues who really go the extra mile 
             on behalf of women. She calls them our Galahads. Frank was 
             one of them, but he would have been the first to say he 
             was doing it for his daughters and for his granddaughters.
               Now, when he left the Senate the first time in 2000, he 
             mused on the future. He hoped that someday one of his 
             grandchildren would open a history book and say, ``There 
             is my grandfather.'' He was the one who stopped smoking on 
             airplanes. He was the one who raised the drinking age to 
             21 saving thousands of families from having to mourn the 
             loss of a child. These are things to help this country 
             that last far beyond his service in the Senate. Well, we 
             don't have to wait for the history books. These young men 
             and women who we have heard from could not be prouder of 
             their Papa.
               Let me offer one more memory that stayed with me for a 
             long time. In 1999, when I was First Lady, Frank and I 
             went together to Fort Dix in New Jersey to meet the first 
             planeload of refugees fleeing the conflict in Kosovo. 
             There were more than 400 people, tired and scared, many of 
             them women and children with little more than the clothes 
             on their backs. The general in charge said he wanted to 
             welcome the refugees just as his own grandparents had been 
             welcomed at Ellis Island. I watched Frank talk with the 
             families, put his arm around them. This was a man who had 
             grown from poverty in Paterson, this veteran who helped 
             liberate Europe in World War II, whose own parents had 
             come through Ellis Island with nothing but a dream, who 
             had written a law that allowed more than 400,000 people to 
             escape religious persecution by coming to the country he 
             loved. Here he was again representing the best of who we 
             are as Americans. Now to our surprise and concern, Frank 
             and I noticed that one of the women coming off the plane 
             was very pregnant and quite dehydrated. She was rushed to 
             a nearby hospital on a stretcher. The next day she gave 
             birth to a little boy. I remember how proud Frank was, 
             that this baby was born, he said, in freedom, in security, 
             in New Jersey. And how incredibly moved he was when the 
             parents decided to name that little boy America, after the 
             country that welcomed him. Frank just loved that.
               Now the late Robert Byrd, a dear friend to so many of 
             us, once took to the floor to pay tribute to Frank. He 
             quoted, as only Senator Byrd could, a poem by Emerson that 
             asks: What makes a nation great? The answer is not gold or 
             arms, but leaders who stand fast and suffer long. Who work 
             while others sleep. Who dare while others fly. Frank 
             Lautenberg was such a leader. He dared greatly, and he led 
             boldly, and we are safer, stronger, and more prosperous 
             because he did. Our hearts are with his wonderful family. 
             You know, he loved and he was loved, and after all, that's 
             what makes a great life. Thank you, Frank.

             Danielle Englebardt. I'm Danielle, or as Frank liked to 
             call me Dan, or Step One. My sister, Step Two.
               To most people here, to the people of New Jersey, and to 
             the world, Frank was an accomplished man on many levels, 
             most notably in business, as a philanthropist, and in his 
             role as a truly effective, passionate, and fiery public 
             servant who leaves a treasure trove of legislation and 
             legacies that will impact us for generations to come. I 
             admired, respected, and learned that from Frank.
               I adored and cherished my Frank. Or Frankypoo as I often 
             called him. The misfortune of losing my father at 7 years 
             old has stayed with us forever, but when my mom brought 
             Frank into our lives, he became our great fortune.
               Well, not exactly at first. Early on, I think it would 
             be safe to say that we hated each other. We had terrible 
             battles because Frank was never wrong, and I neither 
             understood nor cared what he said or was, I am sorry to 
             say. Now I do. I just knew he was a man spending time with 
             my mom.
               Frank was a fighter. In his public life he fought for 
             things he passionately believed in, but in his private 
             life, he fought sometimes just because he felt like 
             fighting, and he wanted to be right. But in both of 
             Frank's worlds, he was incredibly stubborn and incredibly 
             passionate.
               As the years passed, our relationship developed into one 
             of mutual understanding and respect for each other, and it 
             turned into one of the best friendships I have ever known. 
             We would still fight at times, but the fights would end 
             with a smile and one or both of us saying, ``You're wrong, 
             but I still love you,'' and we would move on.
               When my mom and Frank finally decided to make it 
             official after 16 years of dating, not only was I thrilled 
             for them, but I was so happy I could finally refer to them 
             as my parents. Even though it felt like he was family for 
             so long, somehow making it legal was so meaningful.
               I'm not sure when, but somewhere in the last 25 years, 
             Frank became my dad. He cared about me, worried about me, 
             protected me, comforted me when I was sad or heartbroken, 
             and looked at me like a father looks at his daughter, his 
             beautiful blue eyes would light up when I walked into a 
             room, and I felt his love so deeply.
               We could talk and laugh for hours or just look at the 
             other and know what the other was thinking. We respected 
             and cared about each other's thoughts, opinions, and 
             feelings, and I always loved dancing with him at parties, 
             where he was always the last man standing, with me as his 
             date at events when my mom was unavailable, skiing with 
             him, and just hanging out at home.
               I loved watching him make others laugh. He had such a 
             knack for it. At a White House holiday party, Frank 
             thought it would be fun to introduce me to the late 
             Senator Thurmond. Senator Thurmond said to me, ``Nice to 
             meet you, you look like you need a big hug,'' and boy, did 
             I get one. He was a strong man for his age and 
             surprisingly affectionate. Frank was hysterical. He knew I 
             would get a greeting along those lines and loved setting 
             me up for it. Frank loved telling a joke, a funny story, 
             or playing a prank, but what he really loved, was the 
             reaction of the person or the group he was engaging. His 
             joy came from seeing the joy of others.
               In recent months while Frank was sick and reflecting on 
             his life he would often say to me, ``You are not my blood, 
             but you are mine.'' Frankypoo, you were and you will 
             always be mine too. One of my dearest friends, the 
             smartest and silliest person I have ever and will ever 
             have known, my protector, and the most special second dad 
             to me. I am heartbroken that you are physically gone, but 
             I am honored and lucky to have had your friendship and 
             love for so long. And Hudson was lucky to have you as his 
             Papa. I know you will watch over us and protect us like 
             you always did.
               When you meet Hank Englebardt, my dad, I know you'll 
             love each other. You have a lot in common, that you loved 
             and cared for my mom, Lara, and me, and had a great love 
             of life. I know you two will have a great time exchanging 
             stories about Bonnie for eternity. Please tell him that we 
             love him and miss him and we thank him for sending you to 
             us.
               Frank, you brought great joy, excitement, positivity, 
             and love to my life, and I will be forever grateful for 
             the time we had together. Rest in peace, I love you.

             Lara Englebardt Metz. Dear Frank, It's hard to imagine 
             life without you. It seems like yesterday when Mom told me 
             about her new special friend whom I wasn't exactly eager 
             to meet. The early days were tough and our personalities 
             didn't gel. I didn't get you, and you didn't get me.
               It wasn't until the fifth grade when I was studying the 
             new smoking laws, when I began to appreciate, respect, and 
             maybe even like you. Our assignment was loose. Prepare a 
             project related to the smoking ban on airplanes. My 
             classmates labored over posters, dioramas, and models. I 
             walked in with a recorded interview with you. This marked 
             the beginning of a very meaningful and special 
             relationship. And I got an A!
               Our family of three soon became a family of four. You 
             became a permanent fixture with the Englebardt girls, and 
             the male role model Danielle and I needed. My mom chose 
             very well. Our country needs more role models like you. 
             You taught us to fight hard for what you believe in and 
             you worked tirelessly so your grandchildren and future 
             generations could live in a better world.
               Frank, there are so many things I will miss about you.
               I will miss your endless phone calls, especially when 
             you wanted to send flowers to Mom. Whether it was her 
             birthday, anniversary, or apology flowers--and there were 
             plenty of those over the years--you would call and say, 
             ``Hey Lar, I want to send flowers to Bon. What's the name 
             of the flower shop you like?'' I would roll my eyes and 
             yell at you and give you the same answer. ``Frank, I've 
             given you the name and number a million times. Linda has 
             the number, it's on your iPhone and your computer.'' But 
             of course I'd give it to you again, we would chat about 
             the kids, catch up, and be on our way. I choose to believe 
             you always had the number accessible but just wanted to 
             call and say hello.
               I will miss our weekly dinners, usually at an Italian 
             restaurant where you loved to use your restaurant Italian. 
             The only phrase you could say was no aglio, which means no 
             garlic. You said it to the waiters, busboys, and coat 
             check ladies. I even think you said no aglio when we were 
             in Japanese restaurants.
               I will miss you terribly this summer when my girls are 
             on the swing set and I look up to your bedroom terrace and 
             you aren't there. Oh how you adored watching them. I will 
             be waiting for you to interrupt us when we are watching 
             television. You never understood why we didn't stop 
             watching when you walked in the room. I will miss you 
             every time I pass the roasted corn stand on the side of 
             the road. The simplest things in life gave you the most 
             pleasure. You would walk into the house with a bag of 
             freshly roasted corn, with a smile on your face, just like 
             a kid in a candy store. ``Hey Lar, have you ever tried 
             this roasted corn?'' Every weekend, the same corn, the 
             same dialog, the same simple pleasure.
               I will miss your bright smile, the twinkle in your 
             beautiful baby blues, and the sound of your whistle the 
             moment you saw Avery and Macy.
               Franky, our country has a lost a giant of a man. But 
             I've lost my stepfather and very special friend who 
             completes our family. To your wonderful children, Danielle 
             and I thank you for sharing your dad with us. Avery and 
             Macy will be so proud when they learn about American 
             history and understand the true American hero they called 
             Papa.
               One last thing, your pal Corey wants to give you a 
             little advice. Wherever you may be, keep your head down, 
             the fairway is wide open for you.
               Rest in peace. We love you!

             Vice President Joseph Biden. Well, if there's a definition 
             of redundant, I'm it. By the way, Josh, I'm representing 
             the Pope. As Bonnie knows, Frank used to call me the only 
             Catholic Jew he knew.
               Hillary, I think you were thinking the same thing I was 
             when he was talking. I just wish the whole country could 
             have heard all of you, not even about Senator Frank 
             Lautenberg, but just about the definition--you are the 
             living definition of what it means to be a successful man. 
             I really mean that. I have, as a lot of my colleagues 
             have, spoken at more eulogies than I'd like to remember. I 
             advise you all--you've already all broken the rule I 
             advise people to observe: Never make a good eulogy. You'll 
             be asked again and again.
               All kidding aside, I mean, what a testament to Frank's 
             life. Nothing any of us, including me, nothing I could say 
             could define what a man he was more than you've all 
             spoken.
               To the grandchildren, there's not a one of us who knew 
             Frank--and I knew him over 25 years--who didn't know all 
             of you. Until I had grandchildren, when I would try to 
             match him, and then he'd stop. My wife says I'm the most 
             obnoxious grandfather in the world. No, wrong. Frank was 
             the most obnoxious grandfather in the world.
               By the way, Danielle, I knew Strom Thurmond so well, 
             literally I was asked to do his eulogy. I did his eulogy. 
             This is a lot easier. But I want to tell you something. I 
             knew Strom Thurmond well, and he would be proud of your 
             recollection. He'd be proud of the way you described it. 
             Oh, gosh, I'm about to get myself in trouble.
               Bonnie, I'm sure, like Senator Menendez and Secretary 
             Clinton, I'm truly honored to be included to ask to speak 
             about a guy who was my friend. I know from experience that 
             there's nothing anyone can say outside the family that can 
             do anything to fill that void you feel right now. You feel 
             like there's sort of an emptiness in your chest and you 
             get sucked into it. I know from personal experience that 
             profound loss just takes time. I realize that it's beyond 
             my capacity to find the words to do justice to Frank 
             Lautenberg. Obviously I can't do justice for what he meant 
             to all of you, or even what he meant to me and to this 
             country.
               But if you'll excuse, as they used to say in the Senate 
             and they still do, I say it to all my colleagues--excuse 
             the point of personal privilege, Frank was one of my 
             closest friends in the Senate. We served together, 
             worked--just because of Delaware and New Jersey, that's 
             how it started off. We had so much we worked together on.
               I remember when I met Frank. It was in 1975; I was a 
             young U.S. Senator, had been in office 3 years, and Frank 
             was chairman of the United Jewish Appeal. I went to see 
             Frank and he asked me to speak. We immediately--and I mean 
             immediately--became friends.
               The thing that I admired about Frank so much is that he 
             always thought in terms of what he could do, what he 
             should do. He always thought practically: What can I do to 
             make it better? There wasn't some great theological debate 
             that he had with himself. It was real simple to Frank, at 
             least in my observation. There was a problem, so we should 
             fix it.
               I believe that the Greek philosopher Heraclides was 
             correct when he said, ``character is destiny.'' Character 
             is destiny. For everything else about Frank, those who 
             agreed, disagreed, liked, disliked Frank, they all 
             acknowledge Frank had great character, exceptional 
             character. We saw that not only in how he lived his life, 
             but how he died: serving the people of New Jersey till the 
             very end.
               By the way, I know you joked, Josh, about your dad 
             saying he wished he hadn't made that speech. Bonnie will 
             tell you he started at Christmastime last, calling me--he 
             had to see me. I said, ``Frank, are you okay?'' He said, 
             ``No, no, I've got to see you, but I don't want to talk to 
             you on the phone.'' Because we were in the midst of 
             another fiscal cliff and crisis in the Senate, it didn't 
             quite work out. I remember, I see Barbara Mikulski 
             smiling, when I came up to explain that last deal, and I 
             remember you and I were talking and Frank came over and 
             grabbed me and said, ``Joe, I've got to see you.''
               So we worked it out and Frank came down. I invited him 
             to come down. He said, ``I can't get down right now, but 
             maybe you can come up to the Senate,'' which I did, and I 
             went to the ceremonial office. Knowing he told you 
             everything, Bonnie, I'm sure he told you we spoke about 2 
             hours. He wanted to know--he wanted my advice: Should he 
             run again? What do you say to Frank Lautenberg when he 
             says, ``Should I run again?''
               Even then, Frank was slowing a little bit, and he knew 
             it. But I said, ``Frank, look, I think you'll win again if 
             you run again. I think even Christie will vote for you.'' 
             By the way, the Governor and I are friends. We have one 
             really important thing in common: We both love the 
             University of Delaware. We both went there. I even asked 
             him to come out to the championship game with me, but he 
             couldn't make it. I often ride on Air Force Two, Hillary. 
             One of the advantages.
               I said, ``Frank, well, look, what are you thinking?'' We 
             talked and talked. He said, ``Look, I'll send you some 
             data.'' I said, ``Okay.'' I was going to Germany. He said, 
             ``There's a guy in Germany I want you to talk to,'' which 
             I won't say publicly. I said, ``Okay, Frank, I'll talk to 
             him about whether you'd come back to New Jersey.'' He 
             said, ``Maybe for him I might, I don't know.''
               Then we met again, and your dad was getting a little 
             more frail. He said, ``What do you think?'' I said, ``I 
             think you should run, Frank.'' Then he called me again. 
             This is over about a 2\1/2\-month period, and he said, 
             ``Joe, I got''--I won't use the exact language he used, 
             but he said, ``Joe, I don't think I can run.'' He said, 
             ``My legs--they said my legs.'' It was clear to me he 
             desperately wanted to run again.
               I think the reason is not because he wanted to be 
             Senator, but your dad never quit. He never quit anything. 
             He never gave up. He never gave in. For Frank Lautenberg 
             to decide that he wasn't going to run again was not only a 
             decision about how he cared about his State, it was about 
             his character. He viewed it in terms of he was quitting 
             something.
               My dad, who some of my colleagues knew and Hillary 
             knew--had an expression. He'd say, ``Joey, never explain 
             and never complain.'' Your dad never explained, and he 
             complained a lot. But he didn't complain about his 
             circumstance. He never complained about what life threw 
             his way. Right to the very end, the last meeting I'm told 
             Frank took was with Senator Vitter--I don't know if the 
             Senator is here or not--just 2 weeks ago to work out a 
             bipartisan breakthrough to bring more transparency to 
             toxic chemicals used in everyday products. Frank 
             Lautenberg, 2 weeks before he died, knew what shape he was 
             in.
               Even his final days, it wasn't his health he was 
             concerned about, it was the health of the people of New 
             Jersey, the health of the kids in this country. He's left 
             you all an incredible legacy, you children, stepchildren, 
             grandchildren. What an incredible legacy.
               Frank once said there's no end to what can be 
             accomplished if you work like the devil. And my God, did 
             he work like the devil. Bob Menendez is right: He was 
             tenacious. He worked and worked and worked. He did--this 
             guy who was raised, as has been pointed out many times 
             today, with little money, the son of very proud 
             immigrants. He used to tell us the first time he ever left 
             the New Jersey and New York region was when he joined the 
             U.S. Army at age 18 and shipped out.
               When he came back, he proudly would tell you, anyone who 
             would listen, he went to Columbia. He didn't just go to 
             school, he went to Columbia. So anyone who knew Frank 
             wouldn't be at all surprised why Frank was so ardent. Some 
             of my colleagues were seniors. I was--I've been there 
             since '72. None of them was that old, unfortunately.
               Do you remember the fight on the new GI bill? Frank was 
             passionate about it, absolutely passionate about it, 
             because he knew what it could mean and he knew why it was 
             deserved. Everything your dad did was done with passion 
             and success. He was proud of ADP. It was not just he was 
             proud. He was proud to be a Jew. He was proud of his 
             heritage. He was proud to be a U.S. Senator. Like me and I 
             think my colleagues, it's the greatest honor I think you 
             can have bestowed on you. I don't think there are many 
             Senators--a lot of accomplished women and men here today, 
             and Congresspersons--and some of them have done great 
             things--who can in the immediate time that they are 
             acting, see immediately the effects of the good things 
             they've done. Frank was able to do that.
               Frank knows that, notwithstanding the fact it probably 
             did put you in trouble at college when he changed the 
             drinking age to 21--and by the way, you weren't kidding--
             right? But it had been calculated, as the Secretary of 
             Transportation Ray LaHood, a friend of Frank's as well, 
             can tell you, the estimate is he saved over 25,000 lives 
             so far. People not smoking on airplanes--how many 
             thousands of more lives has that saved since he's done it?
               He's the reason why since, as Hillary referenced, since 
             1989, hundreds of thousands of Jews and other persecuted 
             minorities have been able to come to America.
               He's the reason why domestic abusers are prohibited from 
             owning a gun, saving so many more lives, as Dick Durbin 
             knows. I proudly wrote the Violence Against Women Act, and 
             Frank even then thought we should have had that 
             prohibition in it, and he didn't rest until he got it 
             done.
               As I said, even when his health was failing, he never 
             gave up. He never gave in. If it wasn't for Frank, Amtrak 
             wouldn't be what it is today. That's not exaggeration. 
             Josh, I want to tell you something, nobody literally in 
             history has ridden Amtrak as much as me, you can ask the 
             conductor. (Laughter.)
                I have made over 8,000 round trips. Literally, 8,000 
             round trips between Washington and Wilmington. I never had 
             a home or an apartment in 36 years in Washington. The 
             conductors were like my family, as the Secret Service 
             knows.
               I took the train as my colleagues know every single day. 
             I'd blow off the Senate--I got it down to 7 minutes to 
             make it to the train, and I sometimes missed the train. 
             One day I'm breaking my neck to get to the train. I am 
             sprinting. If you ever take Amtrak, just know, ask anybody 
             when you hit the Washington station, do they know Joe 
             Biden, I guarantee they'll tell you--and they'll tell you 
             a story about my trying to make the train. I am like those 
             old commercials running for the airplane, jumping over 
             chairs. I'm carrying my bag which seemed like my staff 
             deliberately loaded it down with weights to slow me down. 
             I swear to God, true story. I get up. The conductor says, 
             ``Hey, hey, Joe, Joe, hold up, don't worry. You're okay. 
             We're holding it for Lautenberg.'' (Laughter and 
             applause.) They're holding it for Lautenberg.
               In all those years I never once asked them to hold a 
             train for me. In all those years, this is God's truth, 
             Jill and I would have the conductors and their families 
             over for dinner every Christmas. Then it got so big, we 
             would have a picnic at our home. All these guys, they 
             never once held it for me. They looked at me, and I think 
             it was Chris Christiani, who is just across the road here 
             in New Jersey, he's retired now. He said, ``Don't worry, 
             Joe, we're holding it for Frank Lautenberg.''
               If you go into the Wilmington train station, which has a 
             lot more people than the Lautenberg train station, it's 
             referred to as the Biden train station. You can't find the 
             name Biden one place, Governor. Not one place on the 
             train--not once. You ride up on Amtrak to New York, it's 
             like a neon sign, Lautenberg, Lautenberg, Lautenberg. Your 
             dad was amazing, man. He's the only guy that made me feel 
             like I was junior to him and I've been here longer than 
             all of them.
               Oh, man, I tell you. He did make a difference, Josh. He 
             got me on the train occasionally. By the way, you know I 
             saved Amtrak three times before he was elected. I don't 
             know how this happened. You know what I mean? That's 
             mostly true.
               But your dad and I had a little--as they say in southern 
             Delaware, well, I won't say it--we had a little altar 
             call, as they say in the southern part of my State. He 
             said, ``You know, Joe, I think we should have one train, 
             at least one of the runs of the new Acelas, it's going to 
             go from Washington, make one stop in Philadelphia, and 
             then New York.'' I said, ``Over my dead body.'' You think 
             I'm kidding? I said, ``Frank, you're a powerful guy, but 
             I'm chairman. Frank, you'll not get another judge in New 
             Jersey. I promise you. You're actually going to cut out 
             the Delaware station, my friend?'' He said, ``Joe, imagine 
             what it would mean to be able to do that.'' I said, ``Yes, 
             you'd have to lend me the money to buy a place in 
             Washington so I could stay down.''
               Look, the fact is that Frank always had to be in the 
             game. That's what I loved about your father. Too much to 
             be done, too much left unsettled, too many injustices to 
             right, too many people needing help. For Frank, the thing 
             I loved about him--like me--he loved the Senate. Because 
             he saw it as the place he could do more than all the 
             financial success he had, all the philanthropy he had, all 
             the influence he had in the community. He believed and he 
             was right, there was no place he could do as much to 
             impact on the people he cared about than the U.S. Senate.
               So Frank came back. I remember when he was leaving in 
             2000. I said, ``Frank, why are you doing it?'' He said, 
             ``It's time.'' I was here shortly thereafter doing a 
             fundraiser for a New Jersey candidate and Frank was there, 
             and he looked at me and he said, ``I miss it, man. What a 
             big mistake.'' And he came back. I think it's fair to say, 
             Bonnie, there was no one happier than me when he did come 
             back.
               Everything Frank did showed his character. As a 
             consequence it would earn the admiration of his friends 
             and political foes alike. Look at how many of his 
             colleagues are here today.
               No one ever doubted--I think every one of my colleagues 
             would confirm this--that when Frank said something, he 
             meant it. No one ever doubted his word. No one ever 
             wondered whether or not he'd keep whatever commitment he 
             made, even if his political circumstances had changed and 
             now it was difficult to keep the commitment.
               As my colleagues know, the most valuable commodity 
             anyone can have in the Congress is their word. Frank had 
             his word.
               There's an expression in my family, and you know as 
             you're talking about your dad, about him repeating things, 
             I remembered why I drive my kids crazy. But one of the 
             expressions I repeat all the time and now they repeat is 
             the expression used in my family constantly. It was my 
             mother's. She always would say, ``You're defined by your 
             courage and you're redeemed by your loyalty.''
               When Frank was your friend, he was your friend. He never 
             calculated how that friendship or loyalty was going to 
             somehow affect his interest. It reminded me of that saying 
             my dad would repeat--not my dad's but a saying, an old 
             saying. He said, ``A friend is someone who walks in when 
             others walk out.''
               At every difficult political moment in my life, your 
             father walked in. He did not walk out. I suspect many of 
             my colleagues would tell you the same thing. For more than 
             25 years that we were with one another, he was always 
             there.
               Frank had courage--both physical courage and moral 
             courage. On the streets when he was a kid in Paterson; in 
             Europe, World War II; the downhill slopes. I used to ski 
             with Frank all the time. We used to take all the ski cups 
             till he ended it. That's another story. I remember 
             watching him in his seventies asking me if I wanted to go 
             helicopter skiing. By the way, for those who don't know 
             anything about downhill skiing, helicopter skiing means 
             you get in a helicopter and it takes you up above the 
             liftline where the lift doesn't go on the very top of the 
             mountain where you can't get there other than being 
             dropped off in a helicopter. If I'm not mistaken, and 
             memory serves me, he was doing that into his early 
             seventies. I'm told--although I didn't do it with him--I'm 
             told that as late as 3 or 4 years ago, he was skiing with 
             you all, downhill skiing.
               Most of all, Frank had the courage of his convictions, 
             and he acted on those convictions. Frank would even talk 
             about himself sometimes, about his public speaking. 
             Frank's speeches were not marked by their eloquence, but--
             I mean this sincerely--he overcame it with the eloquence 
             and elegance of his convictions.
               He always spoke with principle and purpose. This is a 
             self-made man, a wealthy man who spoke with the poor and 
             the disadvantaged and the dispossessed in the way you 
             could taste it when he spoke of it. Even before he entered 
             politics, he spoke with resounding commitment for the 
             security of Israel, the fate of the Jews behind the Iron 
             Curtain.
               Rabbi, as you said, he had an abiding awareness of his 
             roots. He never lost sight of the fundamental moral 
             commitment we had to the State of Israel. And he never, 
             ever backed off his political convictions for expediency.
               In the words of Shakespeare, ``He was a man, take him 
             for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.'' Or 
             as we Irish would say, he was a man. He was a real man.

             Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg. I just want to thank the 
             Vice President, Hillary, Madam Secretary, and Bob 
             Menendez. You spoke beautifully.
               This is an extraordinary gathering for a great man, and 
             I thank everybody for being here. It's just an amazing 
             turnout, and Frank would have been so proud to have you 
             all here. I want to welcome Governor Christie, former 
             Governors Corzine and McGreevey, Secretary LaHood, the 
             entire Senate delegation. It's a pouring out of love from 
             all of you to me and to Frank and to the family and I 
             can't thank you enough for being here, everybody, all the 
             Representatives, all the dignitaries.
               A special hug and a thank you to Harry Reid. Thank you 
             for making magic, and getting everything done for us in 
             Washington. You have been amazing. Because of Senator 
             Reid, Frank will be the second Senator in recent history 
             to lie in state in the well of the Senate Chamber. His 
             casket will sit on the same catafalque that held the 
             casket of President Abraham Lincoln. On Friday morning, 
             Frank will be buried in Arlington Cemetery in a military 
             ceremony including a 21-gun salute. You might wonder why 
             this is so unique for the last World War II veteran in the 
             U.S. Senate. Most people prepare where they want to rest 
             in the hereafter. Not Frank. He told me he wanted to go to 
             Arlington Cemetery so that his grandchildren and great-
             great-grandchildren will come and look for their 
             grandfather and be so proud that he served in World War II 
             and was a U.S. Senator. I told him, Frank, you've got to 
             make plans, fill out the papers, so that when the time is 
             right, you can go there immediately. It could take a month 
             or more if you're not prepared. He never did anything 
             about it. He couldn't face his mortality and figured 
             somehow it would get done. It did get done and Harry Reid 
             did it, miraculously. So thank you Harry, from me, and the 
             entire family.
               Today is a celebration of Frank's life, and the only 
             thing that would have made him happier than seeing all of 
             you here would be if this was a fundraiser for his next 
             campaign. As you heard, he did not want to retire, and had 
             he been well, he would have put up a good fight to stay in 
             the Senate. That is who he was, a street kid from 
             Paterson, and he was so proud of it.
               So what was it like being married to this renaissance 
             man who actually accomplished all those things you saw on 
             television? Difficult, interesting, challenging, loving, 
             amazing. What a life he had. Together over 25 years, 
             married for more than 9. Frank was the most positive 
             person I know. He never looked back. He just looked 
             forward and made things happen. He had a vitality and a 
             smile that I fell in love with 25 years ago and I never 
             lost that love. He was my Prince Charming. He would call 
             me every day from the Senate, and we would speak all the 
             time in the Senate Cloakroom when the Senate was working 
             to the wee hours of the morning at night, and he would 
             tell me what would be on the front page of the New York 
             Times the next day. That was pretty heady considering it 
             was before the Internet and 24 hour news. He introduced me 
             to Presidents, heads of state, Governors, Senators, 
             business leaders, union leaders, actors, directors, 
             ordinary people who always came up to him to thank him for 
             his work; truckdrivers. He loved them all, and treated 
             everyone with the same respect and warmth.
               He constantly told jokes as you have heard, and I had to 
             listen to the same jokes all the time, and I had to laugh 
             as if I had heard them for the first time. He told the 
             same great stories, but over and over and he got offended 
             if I chimed in while he was telling them. Every time he 
             had a new audience I would hear the same story. After a 
             while, I hated introducing him to anyone new.
               But there were extraordinary times with Frank. Like the 
             time we got into a taxi after flying into Boston for the 
             Democratic Convention. The taxi driver had a Russian 
             accent. Frank asked the driver, ``How did you get to this 
             country.'' The driver said, ``The Lautenberg amendment.'' 
             Frank said, ``I'm Lautenberg.'' The taxi driver says, 
             ``No.'' Frank says, ``Yes.'' ``No.'' ``Yes.'' And so it 
             went on. It was so amazing to see how you can make such a 
             difference in someone's life, and how much the taxi driver 
             appreciated what Frank did. The driver did not want to 
             take Frank's money, but Frank insisted we pay.
               One Christmas vacation in Aspen, Frank had a serious ski 
             injury, and 30 days later he said ``Bonnie, I am seeing 
             stars.'' He went to the hospital in New York because I had 
             a good neurologist there, and lucked out with a great 
             surgeon, Dr. Phil Steig. Frank had a bilateral hematoma 
             and the doctors successfully operated on him, but at the 
             same time he was supposed to speak to about 1,500 people 
             at the Chamber of Commerce dinner in Washington. Frank was 
             not going to miss this dinner, so he got his favorite navy 
             suit, a white shirt, a red tie, got dressed up to the 
             nines from the waist up, and got a camera crew to set up 
             in the hospital room, and gave the speech with all the 
             hospital apparatus hanging out of his jacket. No one had 
             any idea he was in the hospital. He never missed a beat.
               Speaking of doctors, I think it's a perfect time to say 
             thank you to all the doctors who helped along the way, 
             starting with Phil Steig; Marty Goldman, his friend and 
             cardiologist for over 15 years; James Holland, who cured 
             Frank from his B-cell lymphoma several years ago and has 
             been a friend for 40 years; and then to all the doctors 
             who cared for Frank at New York Presbyterian Hospital. 
             They tried to make Frank healthy, but with several medical 
             issues he could not fight that viral pneumonia. To the 
             fabulous nurses and caregivers that took loving care of 
             Frank, thank you Beverly, Franz, Ramona, Connie, Mildred, 
             and to Ortenz Campbell, my domestic engineer, who was 
             there for Frank at every moment, and who he depended on 
             for her able assistance.
               We owe so much to Dan Katz and Brendan Gill and the 
             entire Lautenberg staff. What would we have done without 
             this extraordinary group of intelligent people who didn't 
             miss a beat either. Kept the engine revving throughout 
             Frank's entire illness, got the good stories in and kept 
             the dark ones out. I can't thank you enough. Thank you to 
             all the Lautenberg staff, past and present, who helped 
             make his career the success that it was. He couldn't have 
             done it without you. And to Linda Bouchard, thank you for 
             being the dearest Senate assistant to Frank, and for being 
             so helpful to me. You were always ready, willing, and 
             able, and I am so grateful for all you did for Frank and 
             for all of us. To his able assistant Eleanor Rigolosi, who 
             took care of all his personal business life so Frank could 
             concentrate on his Senate career. He depended on her, and 
             respected her ability and friendship for over 45 years, 
             starting in ADP.
               To Rabbi Dan Cohen, Frank's rabbi from Sharey Tefilo, 
             Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Cantor Ozzie Schwartz, and the 
             entire staff at Park Avenue Synagogue, thank you for this 
             beautiful service.
               To Ed Turen, for asking Brian Stokes Mitchell to perform 
             today, and to Brian for your extraordinary generosity and 
             talent and for taking the time to sing Frank's favorite 
             songs. He lived the impossible dream, and always did it 
             his way. To Gail Curtis, thank you for the beautiful music 
             selections.
               I will always love Frank for the love he gave to my 
             children and grandchildren. He was an amazing role model 
             as you heard from Danielle and Lara, and the father they 
             lost as children. He taught us how to think at a much 
             deeper level, and stimulated us in a way we hadn't known 
             prior to his coming into our lives. His biological 
             children and grandchildren are an amazing group, who he 
             adored, and we are so lucky to have them in our lives, and 
             they were grateful that their dad had a family who was 
             geographically convenient.
               Throughout his illness, we all spent a lot of time 
             together, and shared our grief as we watched Frank fail. 
             It was a blessing for all of us when he was finally at 
             peace. We leave here today to go to Secaucus, to the train 
             station that bears Frank's name, and will bring him home 
             to New Jersey one last time. It's a sentimental journey 
             that will take us to Washington, DC, our country's 
             Capital, where he served for 28 years. There wasn't a time 
             when we were driving in Washington that he didn't say how 
             much he loved the city, how it was growing and changing, 
             and how much he loved his job as Senator, even with all 
             the difficulties and frustrations. He felt like he was in 
             the World Series every day. His job stimulated him, 
             challenged him, and kept him vital and young. It was the 
             place he wanted to travel for his final curtain.
               Frank, I was so happy to take care of you when you 
             needed a lot of TLC, but I hurt every day watching you 
             suffer. In return you told me that I have done everything 
             for you that is possible except give birth to your 
             children, but you loved me as if I did. Rest in peace my 
             love. I will miss you always and thank you for the most 
             beautiful memories and an extraordinary life.
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