Heidi Alexander: “I am here today to speak on clean energy independence, but before I do that I want to note the passing of Senator Frank…”

“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. ____________________”