US Senator Frank Lautenberg (center) with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg (right) and Congreswoman Carolyn McCarthy (left)WIKIMEDIA, DARTH KALWEJTFrank Lautenberg (D-NJ), the oldest member of the Senate at age 89, died Monday (June 3) at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell due to complications from viral pneumonia. He had also suffered from stomach cancer, and had already decided not to run for re-election next year.
His health and safety advocacy included crafting legislation that led to smoking bans on commercial flights, tougher drunk driving laws, and greater gun control. “Never was Sen. Lautenberg to be underestimated as an advocate for the causes that he believed in,” New Jersey Governor Chris Christie told the Los Angeles Times.
Lautenberg joined the Senate in 1982, served three terms, and retired in 2000. But he was re-elected 2 years later, after the Democratic incumbent, Robert Torricelli, withdrew from the race after illegal contributions to his campaign were revealed. As recently as April 17, Lautenberg was on the Senate floor, voting to strengthen background checks on gun purchasers. Earlier in his career, he authored the 1984 bill that set the national drinking age at 21 ...
