David Vitter praises Frank Lautenberg, who died Monday - NOLA.com

WASHINGTON -- Twelve days ago, U.S. Sens. David Vitter, R-La., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. surprised many when they announced agreement on a bipartisan chemical safety bill. Vitter said he great respect for Lautenberg, who died Monday morning from complications from viral pneumonia, according to his office.

"Frank was a real statesman, and his knowledge and strong spirit will definitely be missed in the Senate, especially on the Environment and Public Works Committee," Vitter said. "Wendy and I are keeping Bonnie and the Lautenberg family in our prayers."

The chemical safety legislation has been a priority for Lautenberg, 89, since 2005. Vitter, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has been seen as protective of the chemical industry, which is a major employer in Louisiana. Still, last year, the two came close to reaching a deal on chemical safety legislation.

This year, Lautenberg introduced his own bill and Vitter was working on an alternative. But when Lautenberg staffers saw what Vitter was proposing, they realized the two sides weren't that far apart. Lautenberg authorized negotiations and the two senators -- Vitter, one of the Senate's most conservative members, and Lautenberg, one of the most liberal -- signed off on a legislative compromise soon thereafter.

The proposed chemical legislation, which won support from the chemical industry and some environmental groups, creates a clear path for getting new chemicals on the market, while protecting trade secrets and intellectual property. It also allows for regulation of chemicals that are now off-limits to regulators -- mainly those introduced before 1976 when the Toxic Substances Control Act was enacted.

Under the compromise, all active chemicals in commerce must be evaluated for safety and labeled as either "high" or "low" priority based on the potential risk to human health and the environment. It imposes tighter scrutiny for the higher-risk chemicals.

Lautenberg didn't hide his delight at the bipartisan agreement with Vitter -- one of the few in what has been an extremely partisan Congress.

"This bipartisan agreement is an historic step toward meaningful reform that protects American families and consumers," Lautenberg said on the announcement of his agreement with Vitter. "Every parent wants to know that the chemicals used in everyday products have been proven safe, but our current chemical laws fail to give parents that peace of mind."

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., also praised Lautenberg.

"From his advocacy for tougher consumer health and drunk driving laws to his passion for the environment, we have all been touched by the legacy of Sen. Lautenberg," Landrieu said. "He was a valued partner in strengthening our nation's homeland security and providing a strong federal response to the people of the Northeast who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. With his passing, we also lose the last WWII veteran serving in the Senate - he was a fighter his entire life, and we are all grateful for his service to our country, both in the military and here in Congress."

Lautenberg was the last World War II veteran in the Senate. His replacement will be chosen by New Jersey's Republican governor, Chris Christie.

Andy Igrejas, executive director of 'Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families', joined Vitter in praising Lautenberg.

"He was a genuine public health hero, and the leading champion for protecting the public from toxic chemicals," Igrejas said. "The senator never forgot where he came from, and who he was serving. He approached health and environmental issues as a bread-and-butter concern for working families, and he was working hard on their behalf up until the end. He will be missed."

Lautenberg is survived by his wife, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg; six children and their spouses, Ellen Lautenberg and Doug Hendel, Nan and Joe Morgart, Josh and Christina Lautenberg, Lisa and Doug Birer, Danielle Englebardt and Stuart Katzoff, Lara Englebardt Metz and Corey Metz; and 13 grandchildren.

His office said that among Lautenberg's career highlights were passing laws that banned smoking on airplanes; preventing domestic abusers from possessing guns and establishing the .08 blood alcohol standard for driving while impaired and the 21-year-old legal drinking age.

Source: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/vitter_praises_lautenberg_who.html

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