[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
?
Frank R. Lautenberg
?
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
?
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.
?
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.