[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 80 (Friday, June 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S4017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

  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 crackdown 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 WW II veteran in the Senate, we lost a true hero on 
Monday and one of this body's last members of the Greatest Generation.

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