The following Resolution was passed by the Executive Committee at its meeting in Chicago, IL, on June 8, 2013.
Submitted by: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC Chair/Florida
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Resolution Commemorating the Life and Career of Frank Lautenberg
WHEREAS, Senator Frank Lautenberg was born on January 23, 1924 in Patterson, NJ; and
WHEREAS, he served in the Army Signal Corps in World War II; and
WHEREAS, after being discharged from the U.S. Army, Senator Lautenberg used the G.I. Bill to attend Columbia University; and
WHEREAS, in 1952, he joined Automatic Data Processing (ADP), where he was the fifth employee hired, and continued to work for ADP until he retired in 1982 as chief executive officer; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, Senator Lautenberg was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served for three terms, and retired in 2000; decided to run again and was re-elected to the Senate in 2002; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, his first major victory as a Senator came when he was able to push through a provision establishing a nationwide drinking age of 21, which saved thousands of lives; and
WHEREAS, in 1989, he led the fight to ban smoking on all commercial airline flights and later sponsored legislation prohibiting smoking in federal buildings; and
WHEREAS, Senator Lautenberg was instrumental in passing 1996 legislation prohibiting gun ownership to people who have been convicted of domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, he was the author of legislation that required all cargo destined for United States ports to be screened for nuclear material; and
WHEREAS, because of the efforts of Senator Lautenberg, refugee status was given to people from historically persecuted groups without requiring them to show that they had been singled out; and
WHEREAS, Senator Lautenberg was also a major promoter of Amtrak during his Senate career; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2013, Senator Lautenberg passed away from viral pneumonia; and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama called Lautenberg “a proud New Jerseyan who lived America’s promise as a citizen, and fought to keep that promise alive as a senator; “and
WHEREAS, Senator Lautenberg leaves behind a long list of accomplishments in public service matched by few others; and
WHEREAS, Above all else, Senator Lautenberg left his mark as a beloved husband, father and grandfather; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic National Committee honor Frank Lautenberg for his dedication to his country and to the Democratic Party and offer its condolences to his family.