On the recordJune 20, 2013
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. But 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. And 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.…





