View source for Frank Lautenberg

{{Short description|American politician (1924–2013)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Frank Lautenberg
| image = Frank Lautenberg, official portrait, 112th portrait.jpg
| jr/sr = United States Senator
| state = [[New Jersey]]
| term_start = January 3, 2003
| term_end = June 3, 2013
| predecessor = [[Robert Torricelli]]
| successor = [[Jeffrey Chiesa]]
| term_start1 = December 27, 1982
| term_end1 = January 3, 2001
| predecessor1 = [[Nicholas F. Brady]]
| successor1 = [[Jon Corzine]]
| birth_name = Frank Raleigh Lautenberg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|1|23}}
| birth_place = [[Paterson, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|6|3|1924|1|23}}
| death_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Lois Levenson|1956|1988|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Bonnie Englebardt|2004<!--Year omitted per instructions on [[Template:Marriage]]-->}}
}}
| children = 4
| education = [[Columbia University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| signature = Frank Lautenberg Signature.svg
| allegiance = 
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| branch_label = Branch
| serviceyears = 1942–1946
| serviceyears_label = Service&nbsp;years
| rank = [[Technician Fifth Grade]]<ref name="AUSA2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf |title=Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier |year=2011 |work=Legislative Agenda |publisher=[[Association of the United States Army]] |access-date=January 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021200011/http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| unit = [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|Army Signal Corps]]
| battles = [[World War II]]
| battles_label = Conflict
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Frank Lautenberg on his Opposition to the Highway Designation Act.ogg|title=Frank Lautenberg's voice|type=speech|description=Frank Lautenberg on his opposition to the National Highway Designation Act of 1995<br/>Recorded June 22, 1995}}
| caption = Official portrait, 2011
}}
'''Frank Raleigh Lautenberg''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɔː|t|ən|b|ɜr|ɡ}}; January 23, 1924{{spnd}} June 3, 2013) was an American businessman and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] politician who served as [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[New Jersey]] from 1982 to 2001, and again from 2003 until his death in 2013. He was originally from [[Paterson, New Jersey]].

Lautenberg was elected five terms as Senator. He first took office in December 1982 and served three terms, retiring from the Senate in 2001. Called upon to run again one year later due to circumstances surrounding his Senate colleague [[Robert Torricelli]]'s re-election campaign, Lautenberg returned to the Senate in January 2003 and was elected to one additional term in 2008. He died during his fifth term and remains New Jersey's longest serving senator, with a total of 28 years, 5 months and 8 days in office.

Before entering politics, he was an early partner in, and became the chairman and chief executive officer of [[Automatic Data Processing]], Inc. In his early years, he served overseas in the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|U.S. Army Signal Corps]] from 1942 to 1946 as a part of the war effort, and after returning home his interest in [[Politics of the United States|American political events]] increased. He has been called "the last of the [[New Deal]] [[Liberalism in the United States|liberals]]" and was known for his legislative efforts against [[Drunk driving in the United States|drunk driving]], and his support of spending for [[Amtrak]] and [[Mass transit in the United States|urban public transportation]], for stronger [[Environmental policy of the United States|environmental regulations]], greater [[Consumer protection#United States|consumer protections]], and investigations of wrongdoing by [[Wall Street]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=John |author1-link=John Nichols (journalist) |title=Frank Lautenberg, the Last of the New Deal Liberals |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/frank-lautenberg-last-new-deal-liberals/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=[[The Nation]] |date=June 3, 2013}}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Lautenberg was born in [[Paterson, New Jersey]], the son of Mollie (née Bergen) and Sam Lautenberg, [[American Jews|Jewish]] [[Immigration to the United States|immigrants]] from Poland and Russia, who had arrived in the United States as infants.<ref name=nyjw>{{cite news|title=Still Legislating, After All These Years|author=Ruby, Walter|publisher=[[The Jewish Week]] (Manhattan edition)|date=July 25, 2008|volume=221|issue=11|page=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3iJ3AAAAMAAJ&q=Mollie+Bergen+Lautenberg |title=The Congressional minyan: the Jews of Capitol Hill – Kurt F. Stone – Google Books |access-date= June 3, 2013|isbn=9780881256598 |last1=Stone |first1=Kurt F. |year=2000 |publisher=KTAV Publishing House }}</ref>  He was named after his maternal grandfather, Frank Bergen, and close family friend and Paterson community activist, Raleigh Weintrob.<ref>{{cite news | last = Almanza | first = Andrew S. | title = Tracing A Legacy | publisher = [[New Jersey Jewish Standard]] | date = July 26, 2013 | url = http://www.jstandard.com/content/item/tracing_a_legacy/28043 | access-date = August 1, 2013 | archive-date = July 4, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150704200257/http://jstandard.com/content/item/tracing_a_legacy/28043 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title = Should America Remain a Nation of Immigrants? | publisher = US Senate | date = August 11, 1997 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WfZ74oa9InAC&q=Lautenberg+%22Frank+Bergen%22| isbn = 9780160558924 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Silk Arithmatic: Interview with Frank R. Lautenberg | publisher = Library of Congress | date = March 22, 1995 | url = http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/afcwip:@field%28NUMBER+@band%28afcwip+dta02702%29%29 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130615064406/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/afcwip:@field(NUMBER+@band(afcwip+dta02702)) | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 15, 2013 }}</ref>

When Lautenberg was 19, his father, who worked in silk mills, sold coal, farmed, and once ran a tavern, died of cancer. His mother then opened a sandwich shop to support the family.<ref name=bloomberg01 />

After graduating from [[Nutley High School]] in 1941, Lautenberg served overseas in the 3185th Signal Service Battalion{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} of the [[United States Army Signal Corps]] during [[World War II]] from 1942 to 1946.<ref>[http://lautenberg.senate.gov/about/biography.cfm US Senator Frank R. Lautenberg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806175516/http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/about/biography.cfm |date=August 6, 2013 }}. Retrieved November 21, 2007.</ref> Then, financed by the [[GI Bill]], he attended and graduated from [[Columbia Business School]]'s now-defunct undergraduate program in 1949 with a degree in economics.<ref name=bloomberg01 /><ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Lautenberg |url=https://iiif.library.cmu.edu/file/Heinz_box00248_fld00006_bdl0004_doc0029/Heinz_box00248_fld00006_bdl0004_doc0029.pdf |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=September 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910212503/https://iiif.library.cmu.edu/file/Heinz_box00248_fld00006_bdl0004_doc0029/Heinz_box00248_fld00006_bdl0004_doc0029.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Memorial Addresses and Other Tributes Held in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States Together with a Memorial Service in Honor of Frank R. Lautenberg |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDOC-113sdoc16/html/CDOC-113sdoc16.htm |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=September 10, 2024}}</ref>

He worked as a salesman for [[Prudential Financial|Prudential Insurance]] and was the first salesman at [[Automatic Data Processing]] (ADP), a payroll-management company. He became the company's CEO in 1975.<ref name=bloomberg01 />

He was the executive commissioner of the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]] from 1978 to 1982.<ref name="bloomberg01" />

Lautenberg also served in roles with a number of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, including as a member of the [[Jewish Agency for Israel]]'s board of governors and as president of the [[American Friends of the Hebrew University]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clymer |first=Adam |date=2013-06-03 |title=Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey Senator in His 5th Term, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/nyregion/frank-lautenberg-new-jersey-senator.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1974, he became the youngest [[Chairperson|chair]] ever in the history of the [[United Jewish Appeal]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rettig Gur |first=Haviv |author-link9=Haviv Rettig Gur |date=June 3, 2013 |title=Jewish community mourns passing of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a 'true friend' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-community-mourns-passing-of-sen-frank-lautenberg-a-true-friend/ |website=[[Times of Israel]]}}</ref> Within a year Lautenberg had increased its charitable intake to the second-highest level in its history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kampeas |first=Ron |date=2013-06-03 |title=In Senate, Lautenberg maintained commitment to the Jewish community |url=https://www.jta.org/2013/06/03/obituaries/new-jersey-sen-frank-lautenberg-dies-at-89 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> He was also named to the President's Commission on the Holocaust in the late 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United States Holocaust Memorial Council Appointment of the Membership. {{!}} The American Presidency Project |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/united-states-holocaust-memorial-council-appointment-the-membership |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20050707-presidents-commission-holocaust.pdf |title=Report to the President |date=September 27, 1979 |publisher=President's Commission on the Holocaust |pages=vi}}</ref>

== U.S. Senator ==
=== Early years ===
[[File:Frank Lautenberg 1983 congressional photo.jpg|thumb|left|Lautenberg first served in the U.S. Senate in 1982.]]

Lautenberg contributed to Democratic candidates for years.<ref name=bloomberg01 /> He donated $90,000 to [[George McGovern]]'s campaign for president in [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]], earning himself a place on one of [[Richard Nixon]]'s [[Nixon's Enemies List|enemies lists]].<ref name=nj01 /> In [[1982 United States Senate election in New Jersey|1982]], he ran for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. He faced nine other candidates: former State Banking Commissioner Angelo Bianchi, former [[Morristown, New Jersey|Morristown]] [[Mayor of Morristown, New Jersey|Mayor]] [[Donald Cresitello]], former Congressman [[Joseph A. LeFante]], labor leader Frank Forst, former Congressman [[Andrew Maguire (politician)|Andrew Maguire]], Richard McAleer, businessman Howard Rosen, [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]] [[Mayor of Princeton, New Jersey|Mayor]] [[Barbara Boggs Sigmund]], and [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic County]] [[Board of chosen freeholders|Freeholder]] Cyril Yannarelli.<ref name=11-0>{{cite news|url=http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/18011/democrats-11-0-us-senate-races-after-72-have-had-just-three-contested-senate-primaries|title=Democrats, 11-0 in U.S. Senate races after '72, have had just three contested Senate primaries|author=Edge, Wally |publisher=Politicker NJ|date=April 2, 2008|access-date= June 3, 2013}}</ref> Maguire was the favorite but Boggs' entry took votes away from him and Lautenberg spent a considerable amount of his own money. Lautenberg won with a plurality, taking 26% of the vote to Maguire's 23%, LeFante's 20% and Sigmund's 11%.<ref name=11-0 /><ref name=swampdog>{{cite news|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/01/7175915/when-lautenbergs-age-met-bookers-ambition-elegy-swamp-dog?page=all|title=When Lautenberg's Age Met Booker's Ambition: An Elegy for the Swamp Dog|author=Kornacki, Steve |publisher=Capital New York|date=January 14, 2013|access-date= June 5, 2013}}</ref>

The seat had been occupied by Democrat [[Harrison A. Williams]], who resigned on March 11, 1982, after being implicated in the [[Abscam]] scandal. After Williams' resignation, Republican Governor [[Thomas Kean]] appointed Republican [[Nicholas F. Brady]] to the seat. Brady served in the Senate through the primary and general elections but did not run for the seat himself. In [[1982 United States Senate election in New Jersey|the general election]], Lautenberg faced popular Republican congresswoman [[Millicent Fenwick]]. She ran on a very progressive platform and polls in the Summer of 1982 put her ahead by 18 points. Even Lautenberg quipped that she was "the most popular candidate in the country."<ref name=swampdog /> Lautenberg spent more of his own money, eventually out-spending Fenwick two-to-one. He emphasised [[Ronald Reagan|President Reagan]]'s unpopularity, reminded the voters that she would be a vote for a Republican majority in the Senate and called Fenwick, who was 72, "eccentric" and "erratic" but denied that he was referring to her age.<ref name=bloomberg01 /><ref name=swampdog /> He did however point out that she would be almost 80 at the end of her first term and was therefore unlikely to gain much seniority in the Senate.<ref name=swampdog /> Lautenberg won by 51% to 48%, in what was considered a major upset.<ref name=swampdog /> Brady, who had just a few days left in his appointed term, resigned on December 27, 1982, allowing Lautenberg to take office several days before the traditional swearing-in of senators, which gave him an edge in seniority over the other freshman senators.

In his first term, Lautenberg pushed the [[National Minimum Drinking Age Act]], which was passed in 1984.<ref name=nj01 /> The same year, he spoke at the [[1984 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]], though he was overshadowed by New York Governor [[Mario Cuomo]], who gave the keynote speech.<ref name=swampdog />

In [[1988 United States Senate election in New Jersey|his 1988 race]], Lautenberg was opposed by Republican [[Wall Street]] executive, former college football star Brigadier General [[Pete Dawkins]], who won the 1958 [[Heisman Trophy]] for the [[Army Black Knights]]. After trailing in early polls, the Lautenberg campaign, headed by Democratic consultant [[James Carville]], ran an aggressive advertising campaign enumerating Lautenberg's legislative accomplishments and raising the possibility that Dawkins' candidacy was intended solely as a stepping stone to the presidency, as well as pointing out his lack of roots in New Jersey. Lautenberg ultimately came from behind to win re-election, 54% to 46%.<ref name=bloomberg01 /><ref name=swampdog /> The race was named the 17th-nastiest in American political history by political scientist [[Kerwin Swint]] in his book ''Mudslingers: The 25 Dirtiest Political Campaigns of All Time''.<ref name=nj01 />

Following his re-election, Lautenberg became a member of the President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism (PCAST), which was set up in September 1989 to review and report on aviation security policy in light of the sabotage of [[Pan Am Flight 103]] on December 21, 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=254106 |title=Lautenberg profile at U.S. Senate website |publisher=Lautenberg.senate.gov |date=September 12, 2003 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304184258/http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=254106 |archive-date=March 4, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

After [[Boris Perchatkin]]’s speeches in the US Congress in 1989{{sfn|Gura|2018|p=173}}{{sfn|Ostrovskaya|2017|p=69}}{{sfn|Semyonova|2020}} along with Representative [[Bruce Morrison]], Lautenberg was a primary sponsor of what became known as the [[Lautenberg Amendment (1990)|Lautenberg Amendment]], which first passed in 1989.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rosenberg |first=Victor |date=April 2015 |title=Refugee Status for Soviet Jewish Immigrants to the United States |url=https://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1563&context=lawreview |journal=Tuoro Law Review |volume=19 |issue=22 |pages=419–450}}</ref> The amendment granted presumptive refugee status to Jewish people and members of other groups from the Soviet Union, and facilitated the [[Soviet Jews in America|emigration of hundreds of thousands of Jews]] to the United States.

Lautenberg [[1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey|was re-elected]] in the 1994 [[Republican Revolution]], defeating New Jersey State Assembly Speaker [[Chuck Haytaian]] by 50% to 47%.

In 1999, two popular Republicans were considering running against Lautenberg: the incumbent Governor [[Christine Todd Whitman]] and former Governor [[Thomas Kean]].<ref name=swampdog /> Polling showed Lautenberg trailing both of them.<ref name=swampdog /> Lautenberg also did not get along with his New Jersey Senate colleague [[Robert Torricelli]], and suspected that he was encouraging Whitman to run against him.<ref name=swampdog /> Torricelli's relationship with Lautenberg had been very rocky, especially when Lautenberg directly accused Torricelli of encouraging Whitman to challenge him for his Senate seat. Lautenberg raised his concerns in a meeting with Democratic senators in 1999, and Torricelli responded by shouting, "You're a fucking piece of shit, and I'm going to cut your balls off!"<ref>{{cite web|last=York |first=Anthony |url=http://www.salon.com/2001/04/30/blue_56/ |title=Torricelli to Senator: "I'm Going to Cut Your Balls Off!" | work = [[Salon (website)|Salon]] |date= April 30, 2001 |access-date= June 3, 2013}}</ref> Lautenberg was also less than enthusiastic at the prospect of fundraising for a grueling campaign, and did not want to have to spend more of his own money.<ref name=luckiest>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/06/03/the_luckiest_day_of_frank_lautenbergs_life/singleton/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615064812/http://www.salon.com/2013/06/03/the_luckiest_day_of_frank_lautenbergs_life/singleton/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 15, 2013 |title=The luckiest day of Frank Lautenberg's life |last=Kornacki |first=Steve |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013 }}</ref>

He announced his retirement in 2000, but denied it was because he thought he would lose to Whitman or Kean, saying that he had been vulnerable in previous elections, and, "Mr. Vulnerable always wins."<ref name=swampdog /> His fellow Democrat and businessman, [[Jon Corzine]], [[2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey|was elected]] to replace him.

=== 2002 election ===
Almost immediately, Lautenberg regretted his decision, especially after neither Whitman nor Kean ran against Corzine in the general election (instead, Congressman [[Bob Franks]] ran for the seat, and was defeated). He also was said to be missing his days working in the Senate.<ref name=swampdog /> He had considered reversing his decision and running for re-election, but since his rival, Senator Torricelli, had encouraged Corzine to run in the first place, Lautenberg would likely have had trouble restarting his campaign.<ref name=luckiest /> A little over a year after he left office, however, Lautenberg found an opening.

In the 2002 primaries leading up to the [[United States Senate elections, 2002|midterm elections]]. Torricelli won the Democratic nomination for a second term in the Senate. The Republican candidate was [[Doug Forrester]], the mayor of [[West Windsor Township, New Jersey|West Windsor Township]]. It was expected that Torricelli would win the election by a significant margin, as no Republican had won election from New Jersey since [[Clifford P. Case]] was elected to his final six-year term in 1972 in the seat Torricelli was currently occupying. However, an ongoing investigation into the Senator's activities and business dealings resulted in federal corruption charges being filed against him before the election.<ref name=bloomberg01 /> The subsequent drop in voter support in the weeks that followed resulted in Torricelli's decision to withdraw from the race on September 30, 2002.<ref name=swampdog /><ref name=luckiest /><ref>{{cite news|author=Fitzgerald, Barbara | date = October 6, 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/06/nyregion/up-front-worth-noting-the-last-laugh-goes-to-lautenberg.html |title=Up Front: Worth Noting; The Last Laugh Goes to Lautenberg | work = [[The New York Times]] |access-date= June 3, 2013}}</ref>

After overtures were made to retired Senator [[Bill Bradley]], Congressman [[Frank Pallone]], and future Senator [[Robert Menendez]] to take over as candidate, the New Jersey Democratic Party called upon Lautenberg and he accepted the nomination. This was met with an almost immediate challenge by Forrester and the Republicans as New Jersey law forbade the replacement of candidates on the ballot after a certain deadline. The ballot name change was unanimously upheld by the [[New Jersey Supreme Court]],<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/nytimes/docs/torricelli/njdpsmsn100202scord.pdf | title=The New Jersey democratic party, Inc. et al. -v- Hon. David Samson, attorney general et al. | access-date=June 1, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022932/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/nytimes/docs/torricelli/njdpsmsn100202scord.pdf | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all}}</ref> who cited that the law, as written, did not consider the possibility for an emergency resignation and said that Forrester would have an unfair advantage if Torricelli was left on the ballot.<ref name=luckiest /> The [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] declined to take up the case. With the popular Lautenberg now in the race, Forrester's lead in the polls evaporated and Lautenberg won the election by a 54% to 44% margin.

=== Back in the Senate ===
[[File:Lautenberg & Alito.jpg|thumb|Lautenberg meets with Associate Justice nominee [[Samuel Alito]] prior to his confirmation hearings. Lautenberg eventually voted against the nominee.]] [[File:Cantwell, Lautenberg and Boxer.jpg|thumb|Lautenberg with [[Barbara Boxer]] (right) and [[Maria Cantwell]] (left) at a news conference discussing whether oil executives lied during a congressional testimony regarding [[price gouging]].]] [[File:Senators.jpg|thumb|Lautenberg (center) is joined by Sen. [[Harry Reid]] (right) and outgoing Senator [[Jon Corzine]] (second to left, with red tie) to welcome the new Senator [[Bob Menendez]] (between Corzine and Lautenberg) on [[Capitol Hill]]]]

Despite having served over 18 years in the Senate, upon Lautenberg's return he was treated like other freshman senators with respect to [[Seniority in the United States Senate|seniority]]. This was despite the fact that he had agreed to run for office with the implicit understanding that Democratic leader [[Tom Daschle]] would allow him to retain seniority and serve on the Appropriations Committee. He was reported to have been upset with his treatment and commented that "when you come down from a relatively lofty position of seniority, the atmosphere is different", having been given one of the least prestigious office spaces behind a fire exit door.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Raymond |date=February 16, 2003 |title=The Second Time Isn't as Lovely For Lautenberg |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/16/nyregion/the-second-time-isn-t-as-lovely-for-lautenberg.html |work=[[New York Times]] |access-date=September 16, 2020}}</ref>

Back in the Senate, Lautenberg was once again considered one of the chamber's most [[Progressivism|liberal]] members. He was [[pro-choice]], supported gun control, introduced many bills increasing penalties for [[carjacking]] and [[car theft]], and criticized the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] on [[national security]] issues.<ref name=nj01>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/us_senator_frank_lautenberg_di.html|title=U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg dies at 89|author= Friedman, Matt|work=NJ.com|date=June 3, 2013|access-date= June 3, 2013}}</ref> He was heavily involved in various anti-smoking and [[air safety|airline safety]] legislation. He also co-sponsored legislation to increase drunk driving penalties. He was probably best known as the author of the legislation that banned smoking from most commercial airline flights.<ref name=wp01>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/03/how-frank-lautenberg-changed-public-health-in-america/|title=How Frank Lautenberg changed public health in America|author= Plumer, Brad| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] |date=June 3, 2013|access-date= June 3, 2013}}</ref> He also is known for authoring the [[Ryan White Care Act]], which provides services to AIDS patients. Upon his return to the Senate, Lautenberg was the first U.S. senator to introduce legislation calling for homeland security funds to be distributed solely on the basis of risk and vulnerability.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Senator Frank R Lautenberg Press Release | url=http://www.stanford.edu/~jgrimmer/Website/LautPress/LautPair83.txt | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606231518/http://www.stanford.edu/~jgrimmer/Website/LautPress/LautPair83.txt | archive-date=2014-06-06}}</ref>

In 2005, he became a leading voice within the Senate in calling for an investigation into the [[Bush administration payment of columnists]].<ref>[http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005210903.html Lautenberg Requests All Documents From White House Relating to Discredited "Journalist" James D. Guckert, also known as Jeff Gannon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111044539/http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005210903.html |date=January 11, 2006 }}, Lautenberg press release, dated February 10, 2005</ref>

When [[Jon Corzine]] resigned from the Senate to become [[Governor of New Jersey]], Lautenberg became the senior senator again in 2006. This also made him the only person to have been both the junior and senior senator from New Jersey twice each.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} Lautenberg received an "A" on the [[Drum Major Institute]]'s 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues.<ref>[http://www.drummajorinstitute.com/congress/drum-major-voting-summary.php?name=Lautenberg&state=NJ&database=senate Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105225345/http://www.drummajorinstitute.com/congress/drum-major-voting-summary.php?name=Lautenberg&state=NJ&database=senate |date=January 5, 2016 }}. Retrieved June 28, 2006.</ref>

In 2007, Lautenberg proposed the [[Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2007]], designed to deny weapons purchases by persons that the government has placed on the terrorist watchlist. On June 21, 2007, Lautenberg passed [[Clifford Case]] for the most votes on the Senate floor of any United States Senator in New Jersey history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/208072-nj-senators-remember-lautenberg-a-year-after-his-death/|title=NJ senators remember Lautenberg a year after his death|first=Mario|last=Trujillo|date=June 3, 2014|website=TheHill.com|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref>

=== 2008 election ===
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey}}
In February 2006, Lautenberg announced his intention to run for re-election in [[2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey|2008]], saying that deciding not to run for re-election in 2000 "was among the worst decisions of his life."<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Jersey news |url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-2%2F114041382942860.xml&coll=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316010749/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-2%2F114041382942860.xml&coll=1 |archive-date=2007-03-16 |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=[[The Star-Ledger]]}}</ref> Lautenberg formally announced his candidacy on March 31, 2008. His campaign manager was Brendan W. Gill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2014/11/essex-freeholder-brendan-gill-on-new-consulting-firm-politics-and-the-future/|title=Essex Freeholder Brendan Gill on new consulting firm, politics and the future|date=November 26, 2014|website=Observer.com|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref>

Congressman [[Steve Rothman]] and State Senator [[John Adler]] both mooted the possibility of running, but said they would defer to Lautenberg. In private he called them "the pallbearers".<ref name=swampdog /> Ultimately, both declined to run. Instead, Congressman [[Rob Andrews]] announced he would challenge Lautenberg for renomination in the [[Democratic primary in New Jersey, 2008|Democratic primary]]. Also running was [[Morristown, New Jersey|Morristown]] [[Mayor of Morristown, New Jersey|Mayor]] [[Donald Cresitello]], who had run against Lautenberg in the 1982 Senate primary. Andrews ran a poor campaign, "best remembered—if it's remembered at all—for its ineptness."<ref name=swampdog /> He was also tarred with his vote for the Iraq War. Lautenberg's New Jersey Senate colleague [[Bob Menendez]] also came to his aid and Lautenberg defeated Andrews 59% to 35% in the June 3 primary.<ref name=swampdog /> He then defeated former Congressman [[Dick Zimmer]] in the general election 56% to 42%.<ref>{{cite web| author = Liebman, Steve | url=http://www.nj.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/06/polls_close_light_turnout_expe.html |title=It's Lautenberg Versus Zimmer for Senate in November |work = [[The Star Ledger]] |date= June 3, 2008 |access-date= June 5, 2013}}</ref>

The ''New York Times'' editorial board endorsed Mr. Lautenberg's candidacy for Senate during the 2008 cycle.<ref>{{cite news|title=Frank Lautenberg, Democrat|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/opinion/29thu3.html|access-date=6 October 2014|newspaper=New York Times|date=29 May 2008}}</ref>

Both opponents cited Lautenberg's age among reasons to vote against him. Andrews, for example, referenced Lautenberg's own 1982 defeat of [[Millicent Fenwick]], in which Lautenberg was alleged to have referred to Fenwick's age (Fenwick was 72 at the time; Lautenberg was 84 in 2008). Lautenberg denied he made Fenwick's age an issue, saying he only ever questioned Fenwick's "ability to do the job."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140420055649/http://articles.philly.com/2008-02-17/news/25265307_1_lautenberg-new-jersey-democrats-age-factor "Issue of Age Still Follows Lautenberg"]. ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''.  February 17, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2013.</ref>

=== Final years ===
In June 2010, Lautenberg compared the [[devil]] with [[Dubai]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |last=Zunes |first=Stephen |url=http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3150#_edn4 |title=The Dubai Ports World Controversy: Jingoism or Legitimate Concerns? |publisher=Fpif.org |date=June 28, 2010 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910094248/http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3150#_edn4 |archive-date=September 10, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Lautenberg was quoted as stating, "We wouldn't transfer the title to the devil, and we're not going to transfer it to [[Dubai]]." According to a Foreign Policy in Focus article, Lautenberg defended his remarks due to the [[UAE]]'s refusal to support U.S. policy toward Israel and Iran.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> According to the [[Arab American Institute]], Lautenberg apologized in a letter upon meeting with Arab American Institute representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaiusa.org/press-room/2212/aainews070306 |title=Lautenberg apologizes for Dubai remark |publisher=Aaiusa.org |date= July 3, 2006 |access-date= July 2, 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608013635/http://www.aaiusa.org/press-room/2212/aainews070306 |archive-date = June 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On February 14, 2013, Lautenberg announced he would not seek re-election.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Lautenberg will not seek re-election|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/politics&id=8993258|publisher=WABC TV|access-date=February 15, 2013|archive-date=February 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217133832/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Fpolitics&id=8993258|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the press conference, Lautenberg joked "Is it too late to change my mind?" and joked that he would pray "something goes wrong" so he could be called on to run again.<ref name=nj01 />

At the time of his death from viral pneumonia at age 89, Lautenberg was the oldest serving senator and the last remaining [[World War II]] veteran in the Senate.<ref name=nj01 /><ref name=nj02>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/frank_lautenberg_us_senate_ret.html|title=Lautenberg's retirement does not signify end of hard work, he urges|author= Friedman, Matt|work=NJ.com|date=February 15, 2013|access-date= June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author = Jackson, Herb | date = June 3, 2013 | title = Frank Lautenberg, 1924–2013: Politics Take a Rest as Praise Pours in [video] | url = http://www.northjersey.com/news/national/US_Sen_Frank_Lautenberg_dies_at_xx.html | work = [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] | access-date = June 5, 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130708013934/http://www.northjersey.com/news/national/US_Sen_Frank_Lautenberg_dies_at_xx.html | archive-date = July 8, 2013 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Committee assignments ===
Lautenberg served on the following committees:<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Frank Lautenberg|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/frank_lautenberg/300064|work=Govtrack.us|access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]'''
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government|Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]] (Vice chairman)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation]]'''
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet|Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety]]
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard|Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard]]
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security]] (Chairman)
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health|Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife|Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife]]

== Political positions and votes ==
* '''Agriculture'''{{spaced ndash}} In 2007, Lautenberg voted for an amendment to the 2007 farm bill which would have limited the amount of subsidies that a married couple could receive to $250,000; the amendment failed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=16706&can_id=53324 |title=Project Vote Smart – Senator Lautenberg on S Amdt 3695 – Limit on Farm Subsidies |publisher=Votesmart.org |date= December 13, 2007 |access-date= August 29, 2010}}</ref> However, he voted against eliminating farm price supports and eventually voted for the 2007 farm bill as well. He supported increasing the minimum wage.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
* '''Civil liberties'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg was not in the Senate at the time of the original [[Patriot Act]] in 2001; when the 2005 re-authorization came to the Senate floor, Lautenberg voted against cloture, but voted in favor of accepting the conference report. In March 2011, he stated to an assembled group of constituents that [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] Republicans "don't deserve the freedoms that are in the Constitution&nbsp;... but we'll give them to them anyway".<ref>{{dead link|date=June 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.whoradio.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104768&article=8346050 |title=Dem Sen: Republicans 'Don't Deserve Freedoms in the Constitution'|publisher= [[WHO (AM)]]|date= March 25, 2011 |access-date= May 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author = Benson, Guy | url=http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2011/03/25/democrat_senator_republicans_dont_deserve_constitutional_freedoms |title=Democrat Senator: Republicans "Don't Deserve" Constitutional Freedoms |publisher= [[Townhall.com]] |date= March 25, 2011 |access-date=June 5, 2013| author-link=Guy Benson }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=August 2020}}
* '''Environment and energy'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg, who had a pro-environment voting record, wrote a bill in 1986 that established the [[Toxics Release Inventory]], which required companies to disclose the chemicals they released into the environment.<ref name=bloomberg01>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-03/frank-lautenberg-limousine-leftist-u-s-senator-dies-at-89.html|title=Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senator From New Jersey, Dies at 89|author=Arnold, Laurence |publisher= [[Bloomberg News]] |date=June 3, 2013|access-date= June 6, 2013}}</ref> He also co-sponsored the [[Consumer First Energy Act of 2008]], which would have repealed $17 billion in tax breaks for oil companies and re-invested the $17 billion in renewable energy development and energy efficiency technology.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politickernj.com/max/20854/summertime-gas-spat-lautenberg-and-menendez-go-after-bush-and-gop |title=Summertime Gas Spat: Lautenberg and Menendez Go After Bush and the GOP   |author=Pizarro, Max |publisher= [[PolitickerNJ.com]] |date= June 16, 2008 |access-date= June 5, 2013 }}</ref> However, the Senate rejected a cloture motion on the bill in June 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s3044/show |title=S.3044: Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 – U.S. Congress |publisher=OpenCongress |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006051247/http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s3044/show |archive-date=October 6, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> One of his main priorities in his final term was a bill he authored with Republican Senator [[David Vitter]] that would overhaul chemical safety laws.<ref name=wp01 /> Lautenberg favored alternative energy sources, and voted in favor of giving tax incentives to those who use them.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
* '''Foreign policy'''{{spaced ndash}} In 1996, Lautenberg voted against a bill that eliminated the [[United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency]], the [[United States Information Agency]], the [[Agency for International Development]], and the International Development Cooperation Agency and allowed the President to withhold 20% of funds appropriated to the United Nations if any agency of the organization does not implement consensus-based decision-making procedures on budgetary matters that assure that significant attention is given to the specific interests of the United States. He opposed capping foreign aid, and voted to give billions of dollars to the [[International Monetary Fund]]. He voted against implementing both the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] and the [[Central American Free Trade Agreement]]. He called for action to be taken at the World Trade Organization against members of the [[OPEC]] cartel which sets production quotas that raise prices for crude oil, and consequently, America's gasoline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=297216 |title=Senator Frank R. Lautenberg |publisher=Lautenberg.senate.gov |date=May 5, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727020439/http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=297216 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Lautenberg was an opponent of the [[Iraq War]], though he was not in office when it was voted on.<ref name=philly01>{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130604_Frank_Lautenberg__defiant_liberal_of_the_Senate__dies.html?c=r|title=Frank Lautenberg, Defiant Liberal of the Senate, Dies |author=Tamari, Jonathan|publisher= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] (via [[Philly.com]])|date=June 3, 2013|access-date= June 5, 2013}}</ref>
* '''Gun control'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg was a consistent supporter of gun control. He sponsored the [[Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban]], more commonly known as the "Lautenberg Amendment". This piece of legislation prohibits individuals (including law enforcement officers and military service members), convicted of a state or federal misdemeanor involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, among family members, from possessing a firearm. One of his last speeches on the Senate floor was in support of a failed bi-partisan measure for increased gun control.<ref name=bloomberg01 />
* '''Homeland security'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg was a proponent of the [[Container Security Initiative]] which would screen cargo containers bound for the United States for radiological contents.<ref>{{dead link|date=November 2012}} [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gSxyAhQENdaNd3VWy4lMjk_mfP0gD918NIAO0]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}.  [[Associated Press]] (via [[Google News]]). June 12, 2008.  Retrieved June 12, 2008.</ref> This policy is intended to identify threats before they arrive at U.S. ports. The Bush administration argued that the policy would be too expensive to implement, as U.S. inspection teams, with equipment, would need to be installed in 700 foreign ports.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
* '''Public health'''{{spaced ndash}} In 1984, Lautenberg wrote the [[National Minimum Drinking Age Act]] that set the national drinking age at 21.<ref name=wp01 /> In 2000, his legislation set 0.08 as the [[blood alcohol level]] threshold for drunk driving.<ref name=wp01 /> He also wrote legislation that banned smoking on airplanes, in federal buildings, and in federally-funded buildings that serviced children.<ref>{{registration required|date=June 2013}} [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/nyregion/frank-lautenberg-new-jersey-senator.html]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
* '''Social issues'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg was [[pro-choice]] on abortion, and voted against banning "[[partial-birth abortions]]" in 1999.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5CED973601D23&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D | title=Philadelphia Inquirer: Search Results | date=October 22, 1999}}</ref> He voted in favor of expanding [[embryonic stem cell research]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1031F459CB0B438F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D | title=Philadelphia Inquirer: Search Results | date=June 8, 2004}}</ref> The [[NAACP]] gave him a 100% rating, indicating his strong support for [[affirmative action]].<ref>{{cite web |author = Ahearn, James |url = http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/79153147.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130615064727/http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/79153147.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = June 15, 2013 |title = Ahearn: Democrats Hatch a Partisan Ploy |work = [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |date = December 13, 2009 |access-date = June 5, 2013 }}</ref>{{pb}}<!--

-->Lautenberg was a strong supporter of [[same-sex marriage]], and also voted to prohibit job discrimination based on [[sexual orientation]] and to expand the federal definition of [[hate crimes]] to include sexual orientation. He voted against a constitutional amendment banning [[same-sex marriage]], and expressed his support for equal marriage rights for [[LGBT]] couples in later years. Lautenberg did, however, vote in favor of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] in 1996. The [[Human Rights Campaign]] gave him a 100% rating, indicating his strong support for [[LGBT rights]].<ref>{{cite web|author = Curry, Tom |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5694815/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419220651/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5694815/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |title= McGreevey Confession Doesn't Reveal All – Analysis: Case Resembles 2003 Kentucky Scandal|work= [[NBC News]] |date= August 13, 2004 |access-date= June 6, 2013}}</ref> Lautenberg also cosponsored a bill in 2012 that would have removed the deadline for the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] and a new attempt for the ERA in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/39/all-info|title=All Information (Except Text) for S.J.Res.39 - A joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.|website=congress.gov|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=December 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/10|title=S.J.Res.10 - A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women.|website=congress.gov|date=March 5, 2013|access-date=December 9, 2021}}</ref>
* '''Tax policy'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg voted against repealing and restricting the [[Alternative Minimum Tax]] and the [[estate tax]]. Lautenberg voted for the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], which contained $280 billion in tax breaks by expanding the [[earned income tax credit]], [[child tax credit]], home energy credit, and college credit, introducing a homebuyer credit and a credit for workers earning less than $75,000, along with an increased ceiling for the AMT and extended tax credits to companies for renewable energy production, along with a new policy making more companies eligible for a certain tax refund. In 2008, he voted to raise taxes on those earning more than $1 million per year. In 2006, he voted in favor of repealing the Bush-era tax cut on capital gains.
* '''Transportation'''{{spaced ndash}} Lautenberg supported federal funding of public transportation, such as [[Amtrak]] and [[New Jersey Transit]]. Lautenberg was primary sponsor of the S.294 [110th] "[[Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008]]" ([http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-294 Full Text]), which would fund Amtrak for the next five years and provide opportunity for expansion. With the dramatic rise of gasoline prices from 2007 to 2008, Amtrak ridership has reached record levels.<ref>{{cite news | author = Pagan, Michael | url=http://www.politickernj.com/paganm/20650/lautenberg-blasts-bush-veto-threat-amtrak|title=Lautenberg Blasts Bush Veto Threat on Amtrak|publisher= [[PolitickerNJ]]|date= June 10, 2008|access-date= June 5, 2013}}</ref> The bill passed the House, but Senate and House differences were never resolved. He was also a strong supporter of the commuter rail project [[Access to the Region's Core]]. When [[Governor of New Jersey|New Jersey Governor]] [[Chris Christie]] cancelled the project, Lautenberg called his move "one of the biggest public-policy blunders in New Jersey history", and said that, "All he knows how to do is blow hot air."<ref name=bloomberg01 /> The [[Secaucus Junction|Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station at Secaucus Junction]] was dedicated in 2003 with his name, because he helped allocate federal funds to build it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/us_sen_frank_lautenberg_gets_on_last_ride_in_the_secaucus_station.html|title=U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg Gets One Last Ride at the Secaucus Station That Bears His Name | work = [[The Star-Ledger]] |date=June 5, 2013|access-date=June 6, 2013|author=Frassinelli, Mike}}</ref>
* '''Miscellaneous'''{{spaced ndash}} Since the advent of the [[Great Recession|late 2000s recession]], Lautenberg supported a number of Democratic bills designed to deal with the resulting problems plaguing Americans. In 2009, he voted in favor of the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], popularly dubbed the stimulus bill. He later voted for the [[Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights]] and the [[Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009]].{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

== Personal life ==
=== Family ===
Frank Lautenberg married Lois Levenson in 1956,<ref>{{cite news |title= New Jersey Sen. Lautenberg, last surviving WWII vet in the Senate, dies at 89|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-jersey-sen-lautenberg-last-surviving-wwii-vet-in-the-senate-dies-at-89/|newspaper= [[FoxNews.com]]|date= 3 June 2013|access-date= 20 June 2013}}</ref> with whom he had four children: Ellen, Nan, Lisa, and Joshua.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |title= Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey Senator in His 5th Term, Dies at 89|first= Adam|last= Clymer|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/nyregion/frank-lautenberg-new-jersey-senator.html|newspaper= The New York Times|date= 3 June 2013|access-date= 20 June 2013}}</ref> Their 31-year marriage ended in divorce, in 1988.<ref name=NYT /> On 25 January 2004, he married his companion of nearly 16 years, Bonnie S. Englebardt.<ref>{{cite news |title= Senator Lautenberg Marries And Goes Back to Work|first= Ronald|last= Smothers|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/27/nyregion/senator-lautenberg-marries-and-goes-back-to-work.html|newspaper= The New York Times|date= 27 January 2004|access-date= 20 June 2013}}</ref> He also had two stepdaughters, Danielle Englebardt and Lara Englebardt Metz with Bonnie; and 13 grandchildren.

Lautenberg resided in [[Montclair, New Jersey]] for much of his Senate career and last resided in nearby [[Cliffside Park, New Jersey|Cliffside Park]].<ref name="Cliffside Park">{{cite web|last=Rosenfeld|first=Stacey|title=Sen. Lautenberg, of Cliffside Park, was elected into office in 1982; dies at age 89|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/210430651_Sen__Lautenberg__of_Cliffside_Park__was_elected_into_office_in_1982__dies_at_age_89.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130607040629/http://www.northjersey.com/news/210430651_Sen__Lautenberg__of_Cliffside_Park__was_elected_into_office_in_1982__dies_at_age_89.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2013|work=Cliffside Park Citizen|access-date=June 6, 2013|date=June 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name="favorite son">{{cite web|last=Segedin|first=Andrew|title=Deputy Mayor: Sen. Frank Lautenberg 'Montclair's favorite son'|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/193016311_Deputy_Mayor__Sen__Frank_Lautenberg__Montclair_s_favorite_son_.html?page=all|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615105554/http://www.northjersey.com/news/193016311_Deputy_Mayor__Sen__Frank_Lautenberg__Montclair_s_favorite_son_.html?page=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2013|work=The Montclair Times|access-date=June 6, 2013|date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> In 2024, Lautenberg was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Joe Biden]], a Senate colleague for over two decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/03/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-2/|publisher=The White House|title=President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom|date=May 3, 2024|access-date=May 3, 2024}}</ref>

=== Health ===
On February 19, 2010, his office announced that Lautenberg had been diagnosed with a diffuse large [[non-Hodgkin lymphoma|b-cell lymphoma]] (an aggressive but curable [[blood cancer]] that appears in organs like the stomach) at [[Mount Sinai Medical Center]] in New York.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/nyregion/20lautenberg.html|title= Lautenberg's Cancer Is Curable, Doctor Says|work= [[The New York Times]]|date=February 19, 2010|access-date= October 5, 2012|first1=David M.|last1=Halbfinger|first2=Lawrence K.|last2=Altman}}</ref> He had been hospitalized with profuse gastric bleeding following a fall in his [[Cliffside Park, New Jersey]], home shortly after returning from a [[Haiti]] trip with a 12-member congressional delegation.<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-02-15-lautenberg-fall_N.htm "Aide: Sen. Lautenberg doing OK after fall"], ''[[USA Today]]'', February 16, 2010. Accessed March 22, 2011. "Long-serving U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg fell at his home Monday night and was taken to a hospital as a precaution, an aide said. The 86-year-old Democrat, the first New Jersey senator to be elected to five terms, was conscious when he was taken from his Cliffside Park home to the hospital, spokesman Caley Gray said."</ref> He was released from the hospital on February 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/19/lautenberg-diagnosed-with-stomach-cancer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223022320/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/19/lautenberg-diagnosed-with-stomach-cancer/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2010 |title=Lautenberg diagnosed with stomach cancer |publisher=Politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com |date=February 19, 2010 |access-date= July 2, 2010}}</ref> Six to eight [[chemotherapy]] treatments of the intensive [[R-CHOP]] regimen followed every 21 days over several months, and a doctor for Lautenberg at the time said a full recovery was expected. Lautenberg continued his Senate work between treatments. On June 26, 2010, the senator announced that he was cancer-free.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/28/frank-lautenberg-cancerfr_n_627507.html/ |title=Frank Lautenberg Cancer-Free: Oldest Senator Says Cancer Is Gone | work = [[The Huffington Post]] |date=June 28, 2010 |access-date= July 2, 2010}}</ref>

=== Wealth ===
In 2010, Lautenberg's wealth was estimated to be between $55 million and $116.1 million, making him the fifth-wealthiest Senator.<ref name=bloomberg01 /> Lautenberg began collecting modern art after his election to the Senate, much of which was sold after his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/lautenbergs_art_collection_being_auctioned_at_christies.html|title=Flag painting from Lautenberg's art collection fetches $4.2M at Christie's of New York auction|website=NJ.com|date=November 13, 2013|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref>

== Death ==
[[File:Lautenberg Funeral Train.jpg|thumb|right|Lautenberg's [[funeral train]] passes [[Odenton (MARC station)|Odenton, Maryland]].]]
Lautenberg died at [[NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital]] in Manhattan on June 3, 2013, of [[viral pneumonia]].<ref>Staff (June 3, 2013). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-frank-lautenberg-d-nj-dies-at-age-89/ "Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., Dies at Age 89"]. [[CBS News]]. Retrieved June 5, 2013.</ref> He was 89.

Lautenberg was returned to Washington by an [[Amtrak]] [[funeral train]]. "Amtrak is honored to be chosen to carry him back to Washington, D.C. one final time," wrote Amtrak Chairman Tony Cosica and President/CEO [[Joseph Boardman]] in a joint public statement of condolence, "thank you Sen. Lautenberg for your service to the nation."<ref>{{cite web | title = AMTRAK HONORED TO CARRY SEN. LAUTENBERG BACK TO WASHINGTON, D.C. | publisher = National Railroad Passenger Corporation | date = June 5, 2013 | url = http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/295/Sen-Lautenberg-Statement-ATK-13-057.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014065809/https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/295/Sen-Lautenberg-Statement-ATK-13-057.pdf|archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref>

On June 6, 2013, his body [[lay in repose]] atop the [[Lincoln Catafalque]] within the Senate chamber at the Capitol.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank R. Lautenberg Lying in Repose (photo) |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/common/image/2013_Lautenberg_funeral.htm |date=June 6, 2013 |website=United States Senate}}</ref> He was buried on June 7, 2013, with full military honors at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Frank Lautenberg laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news&id=9130439|publisher=WABC TV|access-date=8 June 2013|archive-date=June 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609024808/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news&id=9130439|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Congress passed on September 20, 2013, a spending bill, H.J.Res.59 – Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014, that included a $174,000 tax-free death benefit payment to his widow. An annual salary payment to the widow or family member of a deceased lawmaker is a long-standing tradition for the [[United States Congress]] going back to the 1800s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=$174,000 to a Senator's Widow and Other Surprises in the Fiscal Compromise Bill |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/10/174000-to-a-senators-widow-and-other-surprises-in-the-fiscal-compromise-bill |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>

== Succession ==
{{Main|2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey}}

On June 4, 2013, Governor [[Chris Christie]] announced that a [[United States Senate special election in New Jersey, 2013|special election]] to fill the vacant Senate seat would be held on October 16, 2013. A special primary, which was won by [[Cory Booker]] as the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and [[Steve Lonegan]] as the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[candidate]], was held on August 13, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/04/christie-sets-october-special-election-for-lautenberg-seat/ |title=Christie Sets October Special Election for Lautenberg Seat |date=June 4, 2013 |publisher=Post Politics (blog of [[The Washington Post]]) |access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/new-jersey-senate-election_n_3749759.html | title=New Jersey Senate Election: Cory Booker Wins Democratic Primary | date=August 27, 2013 | work=Huffington Post | first=John | last=Celock}}</ref>

On June 6, 2013, Christie appointed Republican [[New Jersey Attorney General]] [[Jeffrey Chiesa]] to fill the Senate seat until the elected winner could be sworn in.<ref name=Chiesa>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/06/christie-to-appoint-jeff-chiesa-to-senate/ |title=Christie to appoint Jeff Chiesa to Senate |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |author=Aaron Blake |date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>

On October 17, 2013, Democrat Cory Booker was announced the winner of the special election. He has held the seat ever since.

==Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area==
The [[Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area]] is an offshore [[marine protected area]] for [[deep-sea coral]]s off the coast of the [[Mid-Atlantic states]] of the United States, established in 2016 and named after Lautenberg.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/16/505898777/atlantic-ocean-area-the-size-of-virginia-protected-from-deep-water-fishing|title=Atlantic Ocean Area The Size Of Virginia Protected From Deep-Water Fishing|date=December 16, 2016|publisher=National Public Radio|access-date=January 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="daily_press_2016-12-15">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/science/dp-nws-noaa-deep-sea-corals-20161215-story.html|title=NOAA approves Mid-Atlantic deep-sea coral canyons for protection|last=Dietrich|first=Tamara|date=December 15, 2016|work=Daily Press|access-date=January 15, 2018|location=Newport News, Virginia|archive-date=January 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116140154/http://www.dailypress.com/news/science/dp-nws-noaa-deep-sea-corals-20161215-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="philly2014-12-14">{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/health/Massive-preserve-created-off-Jersey-Shore-to-preserve-deep-water-corals.html|title=Some of Earth's oldest creatures are now protected off the Jersey Shore|last=Wood|first=Sam|date=December 14, 2014|publisher=[[Philly.com]]|access-date=January 15, 2018}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
The results for Lautenberg's elections to the US Senate:<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Election Atlas |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |access-date=June 4, 2013}} Searchable database of election results.  Senatorial results for New Jersey available by selecting the state and election type.  This website is recommended for researchers looking for state-by-state election results from the U.S. Library of Congress: [https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/elections/statistics.html].</ref>
*'''1982 election for US Senate'''
**Frank Lautenberg (D), 51%
**[[Millicent Fenwick]] (R), 48%
*'''1988 election for US Senate'''
**Frank Lautenberg (D) (inc.), 54%
**[[Pete Dawkins]] (R), 45%
*'''1994 election for US Senate'''
**Frank Lautenberg (D) (inc.), 50%
** [[Chuck Haytaian]] (R), 47%
** Michael P. Kelly (Keep America First) 0.7%
** Ben Grindlinger (Libertarian) 0.7%
** Richard Pezzullo (Conservative) 0.4%
** Andrea Lippi (Jobs, Property Rights) 0.3%
** George Patrick Predham (Damn Drug Dealers) 0.2%
** Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party) 0.2%
** Arlene Gold (Natural Law Party) 0.2%
*'''2002 election for US Senate'''
**Frank Lautenberg (D), 54%
**[[Doug Forrester]] (R), 44%
*'''2008 election for US Senate'''
**Frank Lautenberg (D) (inc.), 56%
**[[Dick Zimmer (New Jersey politician)|Dick Zimmer]] (R), 42%

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|United States|Politics|New Jersey}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[List of Columbia University alumni]]
* [[List of Jewish American politicians]]
* [[List of people buried at Arlington National Cemetery]]
* [[List of people from Montclair, New Jersey]]
* [[List of Polish Americans]]
* [[List of Russian Americans]]
* [[List of United States senators from New Jersey]]
* [[List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (2000–present)#2010s]]
* [[List of Jewish members of the United States Congress]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

== Sources ==
* {{Cite book
 | last = Ostrovskaya |first=O.P.
 | script-chapter = ru:Судьбы участников эмиграционного движения пятидесятников на дальнем востоке в 1970-1980-х гг. 
 | trans-chapter = The fate of participants in the Pentecostal emigration movement in the Far East in the 1970s-1980s.
 | url           = http://dot.kostacademy.kz/bible/files/769476832.pdf#page=65
 | language      = ru
 | editor        = S.M. Dudarionok |editor2=M.A. Tuliglovich
 | script-title  =ru:Владивосток – точка возвращения: прошлое и настоящее русской эмиграции. Материалы Второй международной научной конференции
 | trans-title   = Vladivostok – the point of return: past and present of Russian emigration. Proceedings of the Second International Scientific Conference  
 | type          = Digest of articles
 | location      = Khabarovsk
 | publisher     = Дальневосточный юридический институт Министерства внутренних дел Российской Федерации
 | date          = 23 June 2017
 | isbn          = 978-5-9753-0229-8
}}
* {{Cite journal
 | last = Gura |first=V.O.
 | script-title  =uk:Історія та есхатологічні мотиви релігійної еміграції пізніх протестантів із СРСР 1987–2017 рр.
 | trans-title   = History and eschatological motives of the religious emigration of late Protestants from the USSR 1987–2017.
 | url           = http://www.irbis-nbuv.gov.ua/cgi-bin/irbis_nbuv/cgiirbis_64.exe?C21COM%3D2&I21DBN%3DUJRN&P21DBN%3DUJRN&IMAGE_FILE_DOWNLOAD%3D1&Image_file_name%3DPDF/gileya_2018_135_47.pdf
 | language      = uk
 | editor        = Andruschenko Viktor Petrovich
 | journal       = Гілея: науковий вісник
 | location      = Kyiv
 | year          = 2018
 | number        = 135
 | pages         = 171–175
 | issn          = 2076-1554
}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://usa.one/2020/01/boris-perchatkin-o-veruyushhix-v-sssr-immigracii-v-ssha-i-aktivizme/ |script-title=ru:Борис Перчаткин — о том, как помогал верующим из СССР попасть в США |language=ru |trans-title=Boris Perchatkin - how he helped believers from the USSR get to the USA |first=Victoria |last=Semyonova |website=usa.one |date=2020-01-03 |access-date=2023-09-25}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Frank Lautenberg}}
*{{C-SPAN|2515}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130727092212/http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/ United States Senator Frank Lautenberg] ''U.S. Senate website''
{{CongLinks | congbio=l000123 | votesmart=53324 | fec=S2NJ00080 | congress=frank-lautenberg/1381 }}
*[http://purl.umn.edu/107432 Oral history interview with Frank Lautenberg], [[Charles Babbage Institute]], University of Minnesota. Lautenberg helped co-found the early payroll services firm [[Automatic Data Processing]], Inc. (ADP) and served as both chairman and CEO.
*[https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo44851 Memorial addresses and other tributes, held in the Senate and House of Representatives]

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